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In
a first-of-its-kind ceremony on June 10th near Neligh, a Nebraska
farmer signed a deed returning ancestral tribal land back
to the Ponca Tribe sacred land that lies on the historic
Ponca "Trail of Tears." (From left: Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Chairman Larry Wright, Jr., Ponca Nation of Oklahoma Councilwoman
Casey Camp-Horinek, Nebraska landowners Helen and Art Tanderup.
Photo: Alex Matzke / Bold Nebraska)
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June 10 ceremony included
Ponca Chairman Larry Wright Jr., Nebraska landowner Art Tanderup,
Ponca Nation of OK. members
In a first-of-its-kind
ceremony on June 10th near Neligh, a Nebraska farmer signed a deed
returning ancestral tribal land back to the Ponca Tribe sacred
land that lies on the historic Ponca "Trail of Tears."
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The land gifting ceremony
and deed signing between farmers Art and Helen Tanderup, Ponca Tribe
of Nebraska Chairman Larry Wright, Jr., and Ponca Nation of Oklahoma
Councilwoman Casey Camp-Horinek took place on Sunday, June 10th,
during an event that also included the 5th annual planting of sacred
Ponca corn on the Tanderup farm. The event included Native singers
and grass dancers, prayers on the land led by Mekasi Camp-Horinek,
and the historic signing of the agreement gifting land on the Tanderup
family farm to the Ponca Nation.
The farm just north of
Neligh has been in Art and Helen Tanderup's family for generations,
and the tract of land that was gifted back to the Ponca has for
the past five years been used to restore the Ponca Tribe's sacred
corn to the indigenous people's ancestral homeland, following a
137-year absence after the Tribe's forced removal from their
lands by the U.S. government along the "Trail of Tears" route that
also crosses the Tanderup farm.
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
has been working, along with many Nebraskans who wish to preserve
this sacred and culturally significant area, to establish federal
and local protections and an official historical designation for
the Ponca Trail of Tears.
"The bond between the
Ponca and the Neligh area has been strong for over 140 years," said
Nebraska farmer and landowner Art Tanderup. "The compassionate
burial of Little White Buffalo Girl and the recent Ponca remembrance
of Sydney Loofe are historic. The Ponca and people of this community
continue to build strong relationships as they work in collaborative
efforts. It is only fitting that out of the tragedy of the Ponca
Trail of Tears that a small piece of this historic Trail be transferred
to them. It is also fitting that the land where we will plant our
fifth crop of Sacred Ponca Corn be theirs as well."
"It's an honor to be
here today to celebrate this gracious and generous donation nation
to the Ponca Nation. This event is another step to healing old wounds
and bringing our people together again to a land once ours. It offers
another opportunity to remind and remember our ancestors who sacrificed
the only home they knew, where relatives and loved ones died being
removed from their homes. We celebrate this day in their honor and
memory and will never forget where we come from and the sacrifices
made so that we can be here today," said Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Chairman Larry Wright, Jr. "We stand here today with our relatives
and friends who have shown so much dedication, work and perseverance
to protecting this land. Our commonality continues to bring us together
to protect this precious resource. Today would not be possible without
the generosity of Art and Helen Tanderup. It would also not be possible
without the work of Mekasi Camp-Horinek, Casey Camp-Horinek and
Jane Kleeb and all those with Bold Nebraska."
"When our alliance with
the Tanderup family began several years ago, there was only one
goal. Protect our Mother Earth for the future generations, just
as our ancestors had. We shared prayers and found the commonality
between the forced removal of the Ponca because of the desire for
our resources, and the idea of using imminent domain for the same
purpose," said Ponca Nation of Oklahoma Councilwoman Casey Camp-Horinek.
"We unified behind our shared vision of saving the Ogallala Aquifer,
the Niobrara, Ni Shude, the winds, the beautiful plains and all
the Silent Ones who are part of the cycle of life. As part of this
stance for protection, Mekasi Camp-Horinek brought the Ponca sacred
corn to a ceremony 5 years ago. These 'seeds of resistance' were
planted on the proposed route of KXL to create a barrier. It has
also turned out to be the beginning of the reunification of a People.
The Ponca. Separated by geography, but one in Spirit, we gratefully
accept a portion of our trail of tears. Our deepest appreciation
and heartfelt prayers are given to Art and Helen Tanderup for feeling
for the Mother Earth as we do. Wi btha ha."
"The Sovereign rights
of Tribal Nations, and property rights of farmers and ranchers connect
all of us," said Bold Nebraska founder Jane Kleeb. "In this
historic moment, we come together to remind our fellow Americans
of our shared history. We are honored that Bold and our unlikely
alliance have been a part of helping restore the Ponca's sacred
corn to Nebraska, and are honored to be a part of today's historic
gifting of that land where we have all come together to plant
and harvest the corn for the past five years back to the
Ponca people."
Background on the Sacred
Ponca Corn planting on the Tanderup farm:
http://boldnebraska.org/seeds
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