Community members celebrate formal dedication of Standing Bear High School

 

Presentations, performances and percussion instruments were all part of a special day in the history of Standing Bear High School on Sept. 29.
 
People from across Nebraska came to the newest Lincoln Public Schools high school for a formal building dedication ceremony. Members of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska joined LPS officials on stage for the 40-minute event.
 
The building is named for Chief Standing Bear, who was one of the first civil rights leaders in Nebraska. Principal Sue Cassata and other school leaders have worked closely with Ponca representatives to tell the story of their history and culture to students.
 
Lincoln resident Makala Laravie is a fourth great-granddaughter of Chief Standing Bear. She came to 70th Street and Saltillo Road with her family to tour the school and listen to the presentations on stage. She felt the event was a fitting tribute to her relative.
 
“This is actually my first time ever being here at the building,” Laravie said. “It’s a very beautiful school. It’s just truly an honor, you know, to be here.”
 
Candace Schmidt told the audience that the ceremony marked the beginning of a bright future for the high school. Schmidt, the chairwoman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, said actions taken in 2024 will impact people in many ways over the coming years, decades and centuries.
 
“As Ponca people, we carry a philosophy that extends our vision seven generations into the future,” Schmidt said. “We understand that our choices today have the potential to influence the lives of our descendants far beyond our immediate horizon. In dedicating this school in Chief Standing Bear’s name, we honor not only his sacrifices and wisdom, but we also reinforce our commitment to nurturing the next seven generations of leaders, thinkers and creators.”
 
Laravie said it meant a great deal to attend the ceremony with younger and older family members. She and fellow Ponca Tribe of Nebraska members Angela Bessmer, Doug Esau, Jessie Hinman and Carrie Voss took a photo together after the ceremony to commemorate the day.
 
“It’s definitely important just to be here and to be at that forefront and set those steps forward for our younger generation,” Laravie said.
 
LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman said Standing Bear High School’s prospects are upbeat. Lincoln community members approved its construction as part of the 2020 bond referendum. Today, the building has 632 students and will likely reach its initial 1,000-person capacity within the next two years.
 
“When we set out on this journey, our goal was clear: to create a nurturing environment that fosters academic excellence, personal growth and community engagement,” Gausman said. “Today, as we dedicate Lincoln Standing Bear High School, we can confidently say that we have achieved that goal and even more.”
 
A committee of ten residents and three school board members unanimously voted in 2021 to name the new school after Chief Standing Bear. Community members suggested more than 200 names for the building, but the committee felt it was important to ensure future students learned about Standing Bear’s contributions for all Americans.
 
Cassata told the audience that decision has led to many positive outcomes for everyone involved.
 
“Naming a school for a person isn’t something that LPS takes lightly,” Cassata said. “Rather, the naming and the legacy that is formed from that name creates a path for our school.”
 
Schmidt delivered a powerful retelling of Chief Standing Bear’s story to the audience. He and other Ponca members were forced to move from their homeland in northeast Nebraska to an Oklahoma reservation in 1878, and his 16-year-old son died there that year. The United States Army arrested him after he returned to Nebraska to bury his son at the place of his birth.
 
Chief Standing Bear and his attorneys appealed his arrest in federal court, and Judge Elmer Dundy ruled in their favor in May 1879. Dundy said Native Americans were “persons” under the law and were free to enjoy the rights of every other person.
 
Schmidt said family members told her about Chief Standing Bear at home, but the story was never taught or mentioned in school buildings when she was growing up. She said it is encouraging to know that is not the case today.
 
“This shows how far we have come and how we have progressed, that here today we come together in a spirit of respect and honor as we dedicate this school to the legacy of Chief Standing Bear,” Schmidt said. “It’s a moment filled with significance, not just for us present here, but for the countless future generations whose lives will be shaped within these walls.”
 
More than a dozen descendants of Chief Standing Bear were recognized during the ceremony, and two Ponca Tribe of Nebraska members gave traditional performances on drums. They closed the event by playing a song created specifically to honor his legacy and namesake.
 
Schmidt said the newest LPS high school will be an inspiration for everyone who walks through its hallways.
 
“This school is more than a place or an academic institution,” Schmidt said. “It is a foundation of building character, instilling values and cultivating a sense of responsibility that echoes the vision of Chief Standing Bear. We aspire for the youth to follow in his footsteps, understanding that their efforts today contribute to a future where respect, justice and equality are a reality for all.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

---