Talk:Ponca State Park

The name "Ponca"

 * The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission link clearly states: "Both the park and the town are named for the proud Native American tribe that once inhabited the area. It was the famed Ponca Chief Standing Bear who fought and won the court battle to have the Indian declared a "person" under American law." http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/guides/parksearch/showpark.asp?Area_No=143 One very important reason that the Ponca have this notariety, and have this town and park named for them, is because of Standing Bear. Since the State of Nebraska feels this is of sufficient importance to include it in their description of the park in their website, I am offering a statement about Standing Bear in this Wiki article. Jerry picker 20:31, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
 * The city of Ponca was founded in 1856 (http://www.ci.ponca.ne.us/), 23 years before the Standing Bear's court battle. While Standing Bear is an important figure in Native American and Nebraska history, it's clear that the city was not named in honor of him, and it's a stretch to claim that the state park was either.  I presume the reason that the Game and Parks Commission mentions Standing Bear is to provide the average person with any sort of connection to a tribe they are otherwise likely to know nothing about.  If you'd like to discuss this further, please leave a message on my talk page.  –Swid 21:01, 1 February 2006 (UTC)