An opera about a contemporary Ponca tribe and their connection to Ponca Chief Standing Bear premieres in Omaha, Nebraska, tonight.
"Wakonda's Dream" was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. He was inspired when he attended the Ponca Tribe's powwow in Nebraska and met a Ponca mother and her son.
The opera connects the Ponca family to Chief Standing Bear, who won a landmark federal court ruling that state Indians are persons. Standing Bear was arrested for bringing his people back to Nebraska after they were forcibly moved to Oklahoma.
Get the Story:Opera explores Indian rights (The Des Moines Register 3/6) $rl Ponca Tribe of Nebraska - http://www.poncatribe-ne.org
Opera Omaha - http://www.operaomaha.org Related Stories:
Two Ponca tribes reunite after 125 years apart (02/15)
Poncas divided by 1879 removal to reunite (02/13)
Opinion: Poncas ignored again over state quarter (06/06)
Ponca chief won't appear on Nebraska state quarter (6/2)
Nebraska to celebrate Ponca Chief Standing Bear (05/12)
Day proposed in honor of Ponca Chief Standing Bear (04/05)
Image of Ponca chief a finalist for Nebraska quarter (02/03)
Jodi Rave Lee: Native image on coin inspires pride (09/14)
Ponca chief design a finalist for Nebraska quarter (09/03)
