Poncas Dedicate Bench In Memory Of Sydney Loofe

5/23/2018

With the sun peaking in and out of the clouds Wednesday afternoon, the Elkhorn River rustled by, unaware that a special tribute was occurring along its banks.

Just a few feet away — on the 141st anniversary of White Buffalo Girl’s death — the Ponca Tribe and people of Neligh again embraced to honor and mourn a daughter taken much to soon. Just as the Neligh community has done, the Ponca Tribe wrapped its arms around Sydney Loofe’s family during a dedication of a bench in Riverside Park.

Loofe, a 24-year-old Neligh native, was found dead last December in Clay County after a nearly three-week search that shook the nation. When she went missing following Tinder date, her disappearance made national headlines.

Several tribal representatives and about 50 others were on hand to dedicate a concrete bench in memory of Loofe, who adored nature and fishing. The plaque on the bench reads Loofe is “now fishing with the angels.”

Tribal Chairman Larry Wright, Jr. led the dedication, as well as presentation of a quilt that they wrapped around Sydney’s parents, George and Susie. Their children Levi and Mackenzie were also there for the dedication.

"For us when we talk about our relatives, we don't forget our ancestors. White Buffalo is girl is there. We are very thankful she has a grave site and a headstone that people can come visit. In our way, as long as we remember and talk about our relatives, they'll never die,” Wright said. “They are always with us. I hope that this gesture from the Ponca Tribe helps the family, helps the community.”

Every part of Wednesday’s dedication was called “perfect” by the Loofe family. From the gesture itself to the location, the Loofes said they were touched by the support of the tribe.

The bench, created by Woody Roberts, and put into place on Wednesday near the Riverside Park gazebo will be a place welcomed for fishing and enjoying the peaceful river.

“On behalf of my wife and my family, we’d like to thank the Ponca Tribe for doing this. Naturally, our daughter meant a lot to us and White Buffalo Girl meant a lot to you,” George Loofe said. “This site, to the west and to the south, my daughter loved to fish; she would love to sit on that bench. And sir, that’s an awesome bench. Thank you.”

The idea for the dedication stemmed from Candice Bossard, a member of the tribal council. Bossard contacted the Loofes through a relative and asked if the tribe could pay tribute to their daughter.

"The family shared with us that Sydney growing up helped tend to the grave of White Buffalo Girl, and that makes all of this so much more special,” Bossard said.

Wright said the concrete bench, which looks like wood, will serve as a long reminder of both Sydney as well as the dedication between the Poncas and Neligh.

But it’s not payback, it’s a pay it forward, he said.

"It was a perfect suggestion, but it in no way pays back 141 years of what the City of Neligh has done. But it's another way for us to pay it forward," Wright said.

Bossard and Wright met with the Loofe family privately before the dedication, where the Loofes presented the Ponca Tribe with two crystals, including Sydney’s favorite, an amethyst. It also included a rose quartz, which means love, peace and the bond with family and friends.

Dwight Howe began Wednesday’s dedication with a special prayer and told the crowd that he longed to thank the people of Neligh for their devotion to White Buffalo Girl.

"I explained it, and it brought them to tears because it's such a loving gesture to teach your children to be good to someone else like it was your own, to have compassion and empathy,” Howe said. “It’s our prayer now that this will be a part of it and will continue with you, this family and this town.”

Neligh Mayor Joe Hartz said the bond between the Poncas and Neligh community continues to be strengthened by tragedy.

"It's immeasurable what you have done for these folks,” Hartz said. "The young girls are with the good Lord and good spirit, and that's what we need to know. Our paths are all headed in the same path to do that."

As the Ponca Tribe left Wednesday, they told the community that just as Neligh continues to care for White Buffalo Girl’s grave, they will care for Sydney’s bench. For generations, they promised, the bench will remain in her honor.

"We'll do our part. If something happens, let us know,” Wright said. “We’ll come take care of it. We have future leaders here, our young ones who will continue that.”