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FL ELFASPassage Cover SheetTitle: I Am a ManStimulus ID: 6889CNSource:CommissionedGrade Band: 6-8Genre:Informational TextText Type: Multicultural/Historical BiographyWord Count: 489Lexile: 1130Lexile Range:925-1185Flesch-Kincaid: 9.4Qualitative Ranking: ComplexI Am a ManThe 19th century was a difficult time for Native Americans in America. Settlers were moving westward and demanding land from the government for settlements, ranches, and farms. Most tribes did not want to be forcibly removed from the lands on which they had lived for generations and were willing to go to war to prevent that from happening. The U.S. government formed a special department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to handle the frequent clashes between settlers and Native American tribes. In Nebraska, however, a tribe called the Ponca displayed no acrimony toward the settlers. The Ponca tribe was willing to share their lands. However, in 1877, the U.S. government asked the Chief of the Ponca, Standing Bear, to surrender what little remained of the Ponca ancestral land and to relocate to what was called “Indian Territory” in Oklahoma. The Ponca had fought numerous battles with their enemies, the Sioux, and had already lost much of their land to that tribe before the settlers arrived. Standing Bear, therefore, wanted to preserve what was left and made a pact with the Indian Affairs agent. He promised that he and several of his men would go to the Oklahoma Territory to inspect the land there. However, if they did not find it suitable for the tribe, the Ponca would be allowed to remain in the Nebraska Territory. The government agent agreed. After finding Oklahoma to be desolate, Standing Bear refused to move his people from their ancestral land in Nebraska. The U.S. government, however, reneged on its agreement, and the army forcibly relocated the Ponca to Oklahoma. When members of the tribe arrived in Oklahoma, they found the government had not left any provisions for the Ponca people. The cruel winter caused many deaths, including Standing Bear’s son. When Standing Bear and several of his men started to walk on foot back to their land in Nebraska, they were arrested. The story of the Ponca’s ordeal was covered in the newspapers, and two lawyers took up Standing Bear’s cause.Standing Bear sued the government for the right of the Ponca to return to their land. The U.S. government at that time did not recognize Native Americans as citizens, or even people, with the right under the Constitution to sue anyone. Standing Bear delivered a famous speech to Judge Dundy, who presided over the trial. The chief stood and said, “That hand is not the color of yours, but if I pierce it, I shall feel pain. If you pierce your hand, you also feel pain. The blood that will flow from mine will be the same color as yours. I am a man.” Judge Dundy agreed with Standing Bear and ruled that not only could the Ponca sue, but they could also return to their lands in Nebraska. Standing Bear was able to bring his people home after many hard years waging a war in the courts as opposed to the forests. A 22-foot bronze statue of Chief Standing Bear stands in Standing Bear Park in Ponca City, Oklahoma. His right hand reaches to the east and his eyes overlook the Arkansas River valley, where sources say he walked more than 100 years ago. Also located in Standing Bear Park is a museum and educational center displaying tribal artwork, exhibits, and educational materials. A 22-foot bronze statue of Chief Standing Bear stands in Standing Bear Park in Ponca City, Oklahoma. His right hand reaches to the east and his eyes overlook the Arkansas River valley, where sources say he walked more than 100 years ago. Also located in Standing Bear Park is a museum and educational center displaying tribal artwork, exhibits, and educational materials. ELL CONSIDERATIONS: ELLs might be unacquainted with native peoples of the Americas or with the history of the contentious relationship between the native peoples and the U.S. government. Provide some background information about native peoples and the existence of Indian nations within the borders of the United States. The Ponca case is an early civil rights case. Discuss the title of the passage before and after reading. Ask ELLs, for example, "What does the title of the story mean?" "Who is the man in the title?" There are several conditional phrases in the passage. He promised that he and several of his men would go to the Oklahoma Territory to inspect the land there. However, if they did not find it suitable for the tribe, the Ponca would be allowed to remain in the Nebraska Territory. Since conditional sentences can be confusing to ELLs, check comprehension by asking, for example, "Did he and some men go to the Oklahoma Territory?" "Did they find the land suitable for the tribe?" "Were they allowed to stay in the Nebraska Territory?" Call attention to the following tier two and three vocabulary words in the passage for some pre-discussion. In addition, teachers may use the words below in a sentence or use synonyms or antonyms in the discussion. Tier two words:Bureau OrdealTier three words: Acrimonyancestralprovisions renegedELL CONSIDERATIONS: ELLs might be unacquainted with native peoples of the Americas or with the history of the contentious relationship between the native peoples and the U.S. government. Provide some background information about native peoples and the existence of Indian nations within the borders of the United States. The Ponca case is an early civil rights case. Discuss the title of the passage before and after reading. Ask ELLs, for example, "What does the title of the story mean?" "Who is the man in the title?" There are several conditional phrases in the passage. He promised that he and several of his men would go to the Oklahoma Territory to inspect the land there. However, if they did not find it suitable for the tribe, the Ponca would be allowed to remain in the Nebraska Territory. Since conditional sentences can be confusing to ELLs, check comprehension by asking, for example, "Did he and some men go to the Oklahoma Territory?" "Did they find the land suitable for the tribe?" "Were they allowed to stay in the Nebraska Territory?" Call attention to the following tier two and three vocabulary words in the passage for some pre-discussion. In addition, teachers may use the words below in a sentence or use synonyms or antonyms in the discussion. Tier two words:Bureau OrdealTier three words: Acrimonyancestralprovisions reneged ................
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