SKU: 89966110658

Chief Standing Bear Forever Postage Stamps

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Chief Standing Bear Forever Postage StampsLINCOLN, NE The Postal Service issued the Chief Standing Bear Forever stamp today, honoring the Native American civil rights icon, who won a landmark court ruling in 1879 that determined a Native American was a person under the law with an inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The dedication ceremony for the stamp was held near the Chief Standing Bear Sculpture at the Centennial Mall. News of the stamp is being shared with the

    LINCOLN, NE — The Postal Service issued the Chief Standing Bear Forever stamp today, honoring the Native American civil rights icon, who won a landmark court ruling in 1879 that determined a Native American was a person under the law with an inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

    The dedication ceremony for the stamp was held near the Chief Standing Bear Sculpture at the Centennial Mall. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ChiefStandingBearStamp.

    “Since the 1800’s, the Postal Service has used stamps to celebrate the legacy of great Americans and we are proud to do that today with this striking stamp of Chief Standing Bear,” said Anton G. Hajjar, vice chairman of the USPS Board of Governors. “Although the United States was founded on the principle that “all men are created equal,” it took our country far too long to recognize the humanity in many of its people – including the American Indians who lived in these lands for thousands of years. I hope this stamp will serve as a reminder of the lessons we’ve learned from Chief Standing Bear, and the brave Ponca people, especially here in the Cornhusker State.”

    Chief Standing Bear (circa 1829–1908) was a member of the Ponca tribe, who lived in the Niobrara River Valley in what is now northeastern Nebraska. The tribe's traditional homeland was included in the Great Sioux Reservation established by the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. The federal government later decided to resolve conflicts between the Sioux and the much smaller Ponca tribe by relocating the latter to the Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma.

    The U.S. Army’s forced removal of some 700 Ponca began in the spring of 1877. Some members of the tribe died during the 600-mile journey by foot. More than a hundred others, including Standing Bear’s only son, died from disease and hunger shortly after the removal to the Indian Territory. Wanting to honor his son’s dying request to be buried in the tribe’s Niobrara homeland, Chief Standing Bear and a small band of some 29 other like-minded Ponca made the arduous trip back to Nebraska in 1879. They were arrested by the Army and imprisoned at Fort Omaha.

    After attracting the sympathy of a newspaper reporter and the Army general who arrested him, Standing Bear sued the federal government for his freedom. Lawyers filed for a writ of habeas corpus on his behalf to test the legality of his detention, the first time in U.S. history such a filing had been made on behalf of a Native American.

    In the closely-watched court case, Standing Bear v. Crook, Judge Elmer Dundy ruled on May 12, 1879, that an Indian was a person under the common understanding of the word and that all persons in the United States, regardless of race, had an inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The judge ordered that Standing Bear and his fellow Ponca be released from custody.

    "Chief Standing Bear is a pillar for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and one of the pivotal civil rights leaders in American history,” said Candace Schmidt, the chairwoman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.  “The Ponca Tribe is elated that this stamp will help illustrate his story of justice and triumph, which is also our story. It also serves as a symbol of the pride and perseverance for all of our members past, present, and future."

    A subsequent congressional investigation concluded that the government had blundered and made a mistake when it gave away the Ponca homeland and later when it forced their removal to the Indian Territory. President Rutherford B. Hayes recommended to Congress that the Ponca be allowed the choice of where to live and that they be compensated for land and other losses. Congress passed legislation to that effect in March 1881.

    “It’s remarkable, that the story of Nebraska Native American civil rights leader Chief Standing Bear has progressed from a native man being considered a non-person by the U.S. Government in 1879, to today, being recognized by the Postal Service with a stamp honoring him as an American icon,” said Judi M. gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs. “This story of an indigenous rights hero is truly and necessarily an American story. This stamp further etches his legacy in our national consciousness and provokes necessary conversations about race, sovereignty and equality in the United States.” 

    Standing Bear and the members of the Ponca who had followed him returned to their old Nebraska reservation along the Niobrara River, where the chief died in September 1908. In 1924, one issue that his 1879 trial had raised was finally resolved when Congress adopted the Indian Citizenship Act, which conferred citizenship on all Native Americans born in the United States.

    The stamp features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by illustrator Thomas Blackshear II. who based the portrait on a black-and white-photograph taken in 1877. Derry Noyes served as art director and designer for this stamp.

    The Postal Service printed 18 million Chief Standing Bear stamps.

    Chief Standing Bear Forever stamps will be issued in panes of 20. Forever stamps, always equal the value of the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

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    TB52
    Louisville, US
    ★★★★★ 3
    Charming and Summery, But Longer Than It Should Be
    Format: Paperback
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 Stars) I listened to Every Summer After on audio, and at first, it really felt like it had the potential to be a solid 4-star read for me. The beginning is charming, easy to sink into, and definitely has that cozy, nostalgic summer atmosphere that so many readers love. It’s a cute, pleasant story with a smooth flow, and the type of book you can listen to without needing to focus too deeply. However, as the story went on, the pacing became a real issue. At around ten hours, this audiobook felt unnecessarily long. The plot didn’t have enough depth or twists to justify that length, and I honestly think it would have been a much stronger book if it wrapped up closer to the seven-hour mark. Around the midpoint, I found myself losing interest at times simply because the narrative stretched itself thin. When it comes to the writing itself, Carley Fortune keeps things very simple. There’s nothing particularly inspiring, profound, or memorable about the prose. It’s straightforward and easy to follow, but it doesn’t stand out, and I wouldn’t say it’s developed enough to be considered a distinct “writing style.” It does the job, but it never elevates the story or adds emotional depth the way some authors can. I also didn’t fall deeply in love with the characters. They were fine, but not the type that stay with you after the book is over. Because the character connection never fully clicked for me, the slower pacing felt even more noticeable, and some of the emotional beats didn’t land as strongly as they were intended to. Overall, Every Summer After is an easy, pleasant listen — perfect if you’re looking for something light, summery, and uncomplicated. While the overly long runtime, very simple writing, and limited emotional connection kept it at 3.5 stars for me, it’s still a sweet story that delivers exactly what many readers look for in a nostalgic summer romance. I’m still open to exploring more of Carley Fortune’s books, and I’m curious to see how her other stories compare!
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    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2025
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    joycelyn
    New York, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    a perfect summer romance
    Format: Paperback
    this book was phenomenal!! i loved every page and i fell in love with the story and characters. it’s told in past and present timelines over the course of six summers and one weekend 12 years later. you get small town, second chance romance, childhood best friends to lovers to strangers to lovers, and more! some of my fav tropes in one book <3 i love the parallel events between the past and present chapters, seeing how percy and sam grown and matured but also stay the same throughout the years (iykyk - the friendship bracelets, “swear on it”, ice cream). their attraction and connection are undeniable! the book perfectly captures friendship, teenage angst, first love, loss, mistakes, and forgiveness. it’s also about finding your person, someone who understands you like no other. the writing was spectacular - it was so magical and enchanting as it encapsulated summer nostalgia at a lakeside cottage. i felt like i experienced every summer with percy and sam. i love how real and relatable the characters are. percy and sam are two flawed characters that let their fears get in their way, but they try their best to repair what they broke. i adore sam so so much, he’s the sweetest and kindest guy who loves really hard. the sarcasm and banter between the two were soo good too, i loved how we get a glimpse of what they were like at 13 and then at 30. this is the PERFECT summer read, i highly recommend it!! i promise you’ll love this if you love ‘love and other words’ by christina lauren! i didn’t think i’d find a book like laow that hits the same, but reading this book made my lil laow heart so happy 💞 i’m blown away by the fact that this is carley fortune’s debut novel and i hope there is more to come!
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    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2023
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    Bartika
    Boise, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    A book that hugs back.
    Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
    I picked this book for my brother-in-law when we were celebrating my sister’s pregnancy, and the title ‘Why a daughter needs a dad’ sealed the deal. The illustrations are beautiful and full of tenderness. The messages on each page are simple and meaningful. I could so clearly picture him reading it to his baby girl someday. It’s the kind of book that isn’t just read – it’s felt. A thoughtful gift for someone you love – especially during such a special season of life.
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    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2026
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    Cameron Hutcheson
    Carnegie, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Great book, well written!
    Format: Hardcover
    I love reading this with my daughter, we have so much fun and the book is great! Fun pictures, fun ideas and very entertaining.
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    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2026
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    Teresa Safford
    San Leandro, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    The most beautiful and touching book!!!
    Format: Hardcover
    One of the most touching gifts you could give from your little girl to her daddy! Cried when I read it! The illustrations are beautiful and the story is so touching!
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    Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2025

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