STANDING BEAR WAS ARRESTED FOR TRYING TO GO HOME – THEN HIS CASE FORCED A U.S. COURT TO DECIDE IF A NATIVE MAN WAS A “PERSON”

In subsequent decades, the federal government continued asserting sweeping authority over Native land, education, culture, governance, and movement.

Rights and coercion existed at the same time.

The United States could celebrate legal ideals in one arena while violating Native autonomy in another.

Standing Bear’s case exposed the contradiction but did not abolish it.

STANDING BEAR RETURNED TO THE NIOBRARA, BUT HIS STORY KEPT GROWING AFTER HIS DEATH

Standing Bear spent his later years back in Nebraska.