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Also, most of the songs are in the Ponca language, a sister to Osage.

“I would have preferred that we found the children,” said Judi gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs.

The big event was staged Saturday in Ponca City, billed as “Military Appreciation Night,” with many, many American flags in evidence.

And, though he’s the governor of Florida — known more for its beaches and theme parks than calf-roping or bull riding — DeSantis’ later stop in Ponca wasn’t, as they say, his first rodeo.

Nebraska’s other statue, of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, was unveiled in 2019.