The Statue on the Hill

Overlooking the former homeland of the Ponca people in the scenic Niobrara River Valley is a newly installed bronze statue of their great chief, Standing Bear. Alice Erickson, his great-great-great granddaughter, recently traveled to the site and as she studied artist Ben Victor's depiction of the Chief in a scene from his historic trial, she reflected on her ancestor's legacy. Today he is recognized as a civil rights hero, but to Alice the Chief is simply family, "He’s up on that hill overlooking our land and he’s with us always."