An early view of Omaha Nebraska. (photo courtesy of the Nebraska State Historical Society archives)
Thomas and Susette La Flesche Tibbles devoted their lives to taking a stand for Native Americans rights. Susette La Flesche Tibbles was an interpreter for the 1879 Trial of Standing Bear. Throughout her life she was a proficient writer and public speaker. Her husband, Thomas Tibbles, was a journalist for the Omaha Herald. He reported on the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee and wrote about the Trial of Standing Bear. Together, the Tibbles brought the subject of Native American marginalization into the limelight so the public would take notice of how poorly they were treated. Their work gave Native Americans a voice and led to several pieces of legislation being passed that proclaimed native people be recognized as human beings who are entitled to the rights and privileges of all people under the law of the United States.
"All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The Earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it."-Chief Joseph of Wallowa Valley. Circa early 1900's.