Bright Eyes: The Interpreter Who Won a People's Freedom by Ron Soodalter, Nebraska Life, July/August 2025, pp 48-52.
Susette La Flesche was born in Bellevue in 1854. Her family lived in a traditional earth lodge. At age two, she and her family moved to the Omaha reservation farther north, and closer to the Ponca reservation. The Omaha were familiar with the troubles faced by the Ponca, who were removed from their reservation and sent to Oklahoma. This resulted in the Trail of Tears, and much death. The Oklahoma weather was different and some did not adjust. when Chief Standing Bear's adult son passed away, he asked his father to bury him at the traditional burial place in Nebraska. This resulted in a group of people leaving the reservation and traveling north. After much harship, they finally landed at the Omaha reservation, where they planted crops. However they were arrested and taken to Fort Omaha, under the direction of General Crook. Standing Bear sued for habeas corpus, and was brought to trial in Omaha before Judge Elmer Dundy. Chief Standing Bear testified in his own behalf, and Susette La Flesche interpreted. Omaha and Ponca are different dialects of the same languague. La Flesche also spoke English. Her father, Chief Joseph Iron Eyes's La Flesche was part Anglo. She was of mixed descent. Her mother was Ponca. She had spent time in both White and Indian worlds. She had attended a young lady's school in New Jersey. She worked with Thomas Tibbles for the Omaha Daily Herald. Tibbles was a newspaper man who had told the story of the Ponca.
As Chief Standing Bear gave his famous "I am a Man" it was La Flesche's words people could understand. "My hand is not the same color as your hand, but if I pierce my hand I will feel pain. If you pierce your hand you will feel pain. The blood that will flow from mine will be he same color that will flow from yours."
La Flesche's eloquent interpretation lead she, Chief Standing Bear and Tibbles on a journey east. The judge ruled in favor of Standing Bear. He was able to bury his son; but they still had no land. Their land had been given to the Sioux. They found an islan in the Niobrara River where the lived and farmed for a tim. They toured and gave discourses in many eastern cities, slowly turning the argument in their favor. The Ponca were eventually granted a small reservation on their traditional land. While on their trip, the wife of Tibbles became ill and passed away. La Flesche would later marry him.
La Flesche became somewhat of a celebrity with her speaking on behalf of civil rights for Native Americans. This including speaking on behalf of other Native peoples. When she passed away she was eulogized by the Senate. She is now inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
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