The Trial of Standing Bear

by Frank Keating, Mike Wimmer (Illustrator), Gini Moore Campbell (Editor)

In The Trial of Standing Bear, award-winning author and former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating tells of the anguish and resolve of Ponca Chief Standing Bear and his people as they are forced from their homeland and their subsequent fight to be treated like human beings. Through the historically-accurate illustrations of Oklahoma artist Mike Wimmer, you will follow Chief Standing Bear, his family, and members of his tribe from their forced removal from the banks of the Niobrara River in northeast Nebraska to Indian Territory, and the ultimate victory that began the long struggle for civil rights for Native Americans.

Genres: Picture Books

16 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2008

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, the illustrations. Mike Wimmer is an Oklahoma treasure. His paintings grace the OK Capitol, and since I had his two children in my class, I often recognize their sweet faces in the crowd scenes! The paintings here are evocative, and the best part of the book.

Former Gov. Frank Keating wrote the story, and seems to tell the story truthfully. Standing Bear, a Ponca Nation chief and his people were driven to Indian Territory, with many, including Standing Bear's child, died along the way. When his son dies in Indian Territory, Standing Bear decides to take his son HOME to bury and begins the trek...only to be stopped and imprisoned. At trial, he is told he is NOT a person with the rights to travel.

The trial, and his own eloquence, changes the course of history, finally adjudicating the fact that Indigenous peoples are...human.

In case we wonder why DEI is important in schools.