“I’m proud to have worked with [former] Senator Matthews to establish Standing Bear Park in Ponca City as the starting point for the trail, and I hope that many more people will learn about Chief Standing Bear’s courage and his landmark court case as a result.” ~Senator Bill Coleman
What do you think about when you hear Civil Rights? For most, our minds go to the 50s and 60s and the many heroes, events and legislative acts of that era. However, there were earlier civil rights efforts right here in Oklahoma when Standing Bear challenged the government in 1879 in a way unheard of at that time. Ponca City’s story of civil rights begins before it was officially a city. The land run occurred in 1893, and the City was incorporated in 1899, just to provide a bit of the historical timeline. The inclusion of Standing Bear at the beginning of the Oklahoma’s Civil Rights Trail is a fitting tribute to Standing Bear’s accomplishments in the courts.
Senator Bill Coleman recognizes that very few Oklahomans, and even fewer out-of-state visitors, know of Chief Standing Bear’s legacy. Including Standing Bear in the trail was critical: “The creation of this Civil Rights Trail is a tremendous educational opportunity that will attract more visitors to Ponca City. More visitors will bring more tourism dollars and increase investment in our city.”
Early conversations about the trail occurred between Coleman and Standing Bear Park administration at Carl and Brenda Renfro’s home in 2022. T.L. Walker, executive director of Standing Bear Park since 1988, received an email from Senator Coleman in February with the Jan. 1, 2023, resolution establishing the trail. The governor signed Senate Bill 509 into law on June 7, 2023. It was a tremendous accolade to the work that began when Genevieve Pollack (then chair of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma) and Carl Renfro (then chairman/CEO of Pioneer Bank & Trust) came together with the goal of a project that spoke to community well-being and healing.
The addition of the Civil Rights Trail adds to this mission. The Oklahoma Historical Society administered the budget established for the trail project, and Walker wrote a grant for an educational kiosk at the park, as well as adding a page with information about the trail on their website.
The kiosk includes a 12’-diameter circle gathering pad at the front of the park, allowing those visiting who may not be able to take the walk to the actual 22’ bronze statue itself to see a large photograph of the front of the statue while being able to see the back from where they are.
The plaza includes a pavilion where visitors can sit and reflect rather than stand and listen to the audios. Chris Henderson with the City of Ponca City helped with the placement of the kiosk and pavilion. The location is easy access, can be seen from the highway and allows visitors to be comfortable as they hear the history and story of Standing Bear. Bill Powell with Powell Electric installed the panel and radio post. The audio volume was increased to be easily heard while sitting inside the pavilion even with the traffic surrounding the area.
Two audios express the importance of Standing Bear. Standing Bear’s story was recorded by Chris Littlecook with Standing Bear’s iconic words spoken in the Ponca language. It is a perfect and moving beginning for visitors. The music heard in the audios was recorded live at Standing Bear Powwow. The second audio includes opening and closing remarks recorded by Carl Renfro, with an excerpt from Joe Starita’s biography I Am a Man read by T.L. Walker.
Fortunately for us, Renfro was able to provide his voice to one of the audio components at the Trail’s beginning. He always called Standing Bear “the first Native American Civil Rights leader.” The audio was recorded just a few weeks before Renfro’s passing, and the project was completed two weeks to the day after he passed. His wife Brenda says, “Mainly, the thing that Carl wanted was education. He wanted people to accept Native Americans and their culture and for Native Americans to accept the others in their community.” She emphasizes, “He wanted education with an open mind to accepting different cultures.” Brenda herself is Choctaw, so the pair have always been interested in this education and sharing of cultures to bring people together.
People visiting the park can also see the viewing courts honoring six area tribes: the Kaw, Osage, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee, Ponca and Tonkawa, as well as the Museum and Education Center. The tribes come together the last Friday and Saturday of September for the annual Standing Bear Powwow at the pavilion across the street from the park.
Renfro was active in his involvement and participation in all developments at the park and always attended the Powwow. Brenda says, “Carl may not have been raised here, but he loved Ponca City more than any other place.” Like anything Renfro cared about, the Civil Rights Trail became a passion project for him. Senator Coleman says, “I’d like to think Carl would take comfort in knowing that a major part of his life’s work—educating the public about Chief Standing Bear and elevating our first Native American civil rights leader in Oklahoma history—continues even after his passing.”
After beginning at Standing Bear Park in Ponca City, the Civil Rights Trail proceeds to Fairfax to remember the 1920s “Osage Reign of Terror”; through Oklahoma’s 13 all-Black communities that are still surviving towns including Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee and Vernon; to Greenwood Rising and the Pathway to Hope in Tulsa; and ending at the Clara Luper Center in Oklahoma City.
You can find information about Standing Bear’s part in the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail at https://www.standingbearpark.com/civil-rights-trail.html. Better yet, take a trip to 601 Standing Bear Parkway and enjoy the beginning of such an important trail as you visit all that Standing Bear Park, Museum & Education Center has to offer.
Visit
Standing Bear Museum & Education Center
Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Standing Bear Park
Open Daily 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
