The Ponca protested their conditions. An additional irritant occurred upon the death of Standing Bear's oldest son in 1879. The chief had promised to bury him in his homeland, and about 60 Ponca accompanied him back to Nebraska. The U.S. Army was ordered to arrest them for having left the reservation, and they were confined to Fort Omaha. Most of the tribal members who left eventually returned to the reservation in Oklahoma. With the aid of prominent attorneys working pro bono, Standing Bear filed a writ of habeas corpus challenging his arrest. The case of Standing Bear v. Crook (1879) was a landmark decision in the U.S. District Court, where the judge ruled that Indians had the same legal rights as other United States citizens.
the ponca protested their conditions an additional irritant occurred upon the death of standing bear's oldest son in 1879 the chief had promised to bury him in his homeland and about 60 ponca accompanied him back to nebraska the us army was ordered to arrest them for having left the reservation and they were confined to fort omaha most of the tribal members who left eventually returned to the reservation in oklahoma with the aid of prominent attorneys working pro bono standing bear filed a writ of habeas corpus challenging his arrest the case of standing bear v crook (1879) was a landmark decision in the us district court where the judge ruled that indians had the same legal rights as other united states citizens