We would rather die here on our land than be forced to go. Kill us all here on our land now, so that in the future when men will ask, 'Why have these died?' it shall be answered, 'They died rather than be forced to leave their land. They died to maintain their rights. And perhaps there will be found some who will pity us and say, 'They only did what was right.'

We would rather die here on our land than be forced to go. Kill us all here on our land now, so that in the future when men will ask, ‘Why have these died?’ it shall be answered, ‘They died rather than be forced to leave their land. They died to maintain their rights. And perhaps there will be found some who will pity us and say, ‘They only did what was right.’

– White Eagle

Ponca chief on removal of Ponca Indians from Dakota Territory to Indian Territory, May 20, 1879.

White Eagle Quotes