Lincoln Public Schools honors Standing Bear's history at dedication ceremony

Lincoln Public Schools hosted a dedication ceremony at Standing Bear High School on Sunday.

Dozens of community members gathered in the Standing Bear auditorium to honor the start of the second school year at the high school and recognize the work of countless people to create the namesake school.

Members of the Ponca Tribe and school and district officials spoke to those in attendance. There were also performances from the Ponca Drum Group and members of the school's band.

"We are proud to be named after Chief Standing Bear and hope now, and in years to come, we continue to do our work in honor of him and the Ponca Tribe," Principal Sue Cassata said.

Standing Bear, LPS' eighth high school, opened in August 2023 at South 70th Street and Saltillo Road and was one of two new high schools built with money from a $290 million bond issue voters approved in 2020. The school is named after Standing Bear, the chief of Nebraska's Ponca Tribe during the forced removal of the tribe from its homeland.

Every high school has history, but not every one has the chance to create history from the ground up, Cassata said.

Cassata has traveled to the Ponca Tribe headquarters in Niobrara to visit Ponca leaders to better understand the history and culture of the tribe, said Candace Schmidt, the tribe's chair.

Schmidt opened her portion of the dedication ceremony with the story of Chief Standing Bear's trial and the 1879 federal court ruling that allowed Natives to sue for their freedom.

Schmidt said she learned this story growing up, not from the public school system, but at home.

"This vital piece of American history was not taught despite him being one of the first civil rights leaders, not only in this country, but right here in Nebraska," Schmidt said. "This shows how far we have come and how we have progressed."

Standing Bear High School is more than a school, she said.

"It is a foundation of building character, instilling values and cultivating a sense of responsibility that echoes the vision of Chief Standing Bear," she said.

Bringing about the new school started long before construction, Superintendent Paul Gausman said.

"Today's event marks the culmination of tireless efforts, unwavering dedication and a collective vision of countless individuals, some of who are not able to be with us today, who believe in the power of education to transform lives," Gausman said.

Ricky Wright Jr., the director of cultural affairs for the Ponca Tribe, recalled the time when the school was no more than a plot of land.

"I remember when this was a big dirt pile here," he said. "And as you can see, it's a wonderful, beautiful facility that we have here today."

Last school year, Standing Bear had about 300 students in its inaugural year with the school only accepting freshmen and sophomores.

This fall, Standing Bear was expected to welcome about 600 students, including juniors for the first time.

Standing Bear students Madelyn Winder, 14, and Celia Winder, 16, said they were greeted with open arms by school staff and were taught to be accepting like their school's namesake.

Cassata said the school has the responsibility to tell the stories, both of the past and of the future, of Standing Bear and Native communities across the state.

"I hope every student who comes here find their way, makes a connection, finds an area of passion, is seen, heard, celebrated and pushed to be a better person."

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or .

Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.