Standing Bear, 1878, American Heritage
In 1879 a brave leader and father made the journey back to his home land to properly bury his deceased son. His name was Ma-chu-nah-zah (Standing Bear), and he was a proud Ponca Chief who is remembered today for using his words to stand up for himself and his people's rights. Although some argue that Standing Bear’s speech wasn’t influential because it only helped him at the time, his speech was a significant turning point in the way non-Native peoples viewed Native Americans. Standing Bear's story was a significant step towards the fuller recognition of Native-American civil rights in the 20th century.