I wrote Harvard a letter demanding they return my Ponca ancestor Standing Bear’s tomahawk. No answer. Today, my story airs on Boston NPR’s All Things Considered and I just got confirmation a resolution for repatriation will be introduced in Nebraska Legislature. They will hear me 
And I want to give credit to Sen. Tom Brewer of the Nebraska Legislature with whom I am working on the resolution. He is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the first Native American ever elected to the state legislature in Nebraska. Very grateful and appreciative!
My ancestor himself said the tomahawk was an “heirloom” that “came down to him from former generations of Poncas” when he he presented it to his lawyer who helped him win his freedom in 1879. It was given to Harvard without his knowledge. This heirloom belongs solely to us Ponca!
The sole reason this tomahawk is not still a family heirloom is because of the 1877 Ponca Trail of Tears, a disaster that killed hundreds. But for that injustice, he wouldn’t have needed a White lawyer and that lawyer wouldn’t have given our heirloom to Harvard. I want it back
The museum director responded to me with a predictably meaningless email using empty words like “dialogue,” “collaboration” and “conversations” that wholly fails to address my demands for repatriation of the tomahawk. It is pretense verbiage to brush me off. This is unacceptable.
By the way, she only responded after I pointed out she failed to respond despite opening the email numerous times. And even then, not until got on NPR, a resolution in a state legislature, and this viral tweet.
My response below. I just want to be respected and taken seriously on my request.
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