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”

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LATER TERMINATED THE NORTHERN PONCA

In the mid-twentieth century, the United States adopted a policy known as termination.

The basic idea was to end the special federal relationship with selected tribal nations, dissolve certain federal responsibilities, and push Native people toward assimilation into state society.

Supporters often described termination in the language of freedom or equality.

For affected tribes, the results could mean loss of federal recognition, services, political status, and land protections.

The Northern Ponca were targeted.