New historical marker details Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s first village

PONCA, Neb. (KCAU)– To recognize the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s first village, a new historical marker has been set in stone at Ponca State Park.

For almost a decade, the Ponca Historical Society has worked on a historical marker, detailing the tribe’s first village that was on the grounds of the Ponca State Park. To celebrate the unveiling, the Historical Society invited tribal members and the public to the state park’s educational center.

The Ponca Historical Society’s vice president said this marker will help teach generations to come of the Ponca Tribe.

“My grandchildren need to know why Ponca was named Ponca, and they need to know about the tribe and the traditions and the symbolism within the tribe. They are beautiful people, the Ponca, are beautiful people,” said Iris Dutton, with the Ponca Historical Society.

Dwight Howe is an Omaha and Ponca tribal member who moved to eastern Nebraska more than 20 years ago. Howe has been pushing for the historical marker in Ponca State Park since arriving. He said he’s thrilled to see his dream become a reality.

“It’s a type of closure, a part of another piece of the puzzle put together. Imagine if you had a thousand-piece puzzle when you’re done. That feeling of accomplishment and that sense of, Wow, I did it. That’s what this is,” said Dwight Howe, an Omaha and Ponca Tribal member.

To finish off the unveiling, Ponca historical members gave three Ponca Tribe of Nebraska members a gift. Two prayer shawls and a barn quilt, all of which were designed with the colors of the Native American medicine wheel in mind.

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