Re: Chairman Trey Howe.docDorcas,This grieves me greatly, Dorcas. 

There is an old enemy and that is death itself. This is the ultimate,greatest curse put on mankind and we only can do what we must to endure until it is overcome asyou know is promised, "when every man will sit under his own fig tree, and war will be no more."

A marker goes over and through time to tell those in the future this person was loved by their familyand, indeed, will be the place where they are resurrected much to joy oftheir descendants.  For someone to  so callously take it upon themselves to interfere withthe grief of this family is a dangerous place to put themselves.  The scriptures tell, "the angels are camping around the bones of righteous ones." 
 
Surely the angels saw who did this and their network is connected to our Great Spirit Creator, through Jesus Christ andhis Father, Jehovah.   For those who have no fear of these supernatural forces,  let them learn the follyof challenging them. I wouldn't want to be in the perpetrators of this act's  place.  As you know this goes along with our Poncateachings, as well.  May I send your letter on to my mailing list?  Please?  I have many who read my mail.Respectfully and in condolence, DorcasDonnaWilliams, Dorcas wrote:

Re: letter to Chairman Trey Howe:Donna , I could only think of you and howgentle you can be with your sword when you write. Please read my little letter I wrote to The Tribal Chairman and Council members. I didn't know what else to do. I can't get that off my mind. Mygrandmother's stone was damaged before, but I never Thought it would be knocked completely down. We are taking about a fiveto six feet stone.

Chairman Trey Howe
Ponca Tribe

6/26/2008

Chairman Howe
Ponca Council Members

Please see the following quotes from the Ponca City Newspaper. Article, Tribe Meets With DEQ Officials. 6/26/2008

Quote from Chris Little Cook, Ponca tribe
 
“I have relatives up there," he said. "They suffered hardships, indignities and injustices and continue to suffer after death”

July 18, 2008 we put my niece, Amelia Smith Warrior to rest at the Ponca Cemetery. As we approached the Cemetery, something was terribly wrong. I was already very upset and I said to my daughter who was driving me-something is not right. She kept assuring me everything is okay, Mom.

We had to complete our burial and lay my niece to rest. As my daughter and one of her relatives, Curtis Williams and I walked toward my grandmother’s grave, that’s when I saw her stone was laying on the ground.

The particular stone I’m speaking of was very large white stone, it’s the first stone you see when you enter the cemetery. It’s about five feet tall. It has two sections to it. The top part was on the ground and the two sections that are engraved with my grandmother’s name and her daughters name on it were lying side by side. I become very upset and tried to pick up one side that has my grandmother’s name on it. I couldn’t because it’s made out of marble and very heavy. Curtis begins to inspect the base of the stone and said someone has hit it, perhaps with a vehicle. You can see the damage.

My aunts name is Hazel Goodboy, daughter of Goodboy and Jennie DeLodge Goodboy. My grandmother, Jennie, was one the daughters of White Eagle. What I’m trying to say, going back to My relative’s quote "They suffered hardships, indignities and injustices and continue to suffer after death”

Chairman Howe and Council Members of the Ponca Tribe, perhaps when you convene for another meeting. You might put this on your agenda and seek ways to prevent this terrible destruction from happening to other graves and stone that have been standing for years. Perhaps a curfew might be imposed at the cemetery, maybe a few signs asking for slower speed. How this happened, I don’t know, but respect plays a big part of our Ponca people. I want to believe that this was an accident.

It will be awhile before my family and I can get enough money to get the stone fixed. But I’m praying no one will remove any of the sections. I don’t know how that can be prevented, but to make you aware that this could be happening to other families.

As we left the cemetery that day, I was very upset, twofold, but I felt I could write to you and the Council members. I know you have many challenges being Leaders.

I trust you will address this problem.

Thank you,

Dorcas Williams, Ponca Tribal Member