White Buffalo Girl State Historical Marker
Launch the media gallery 1 playerWhite Buffalo Girl’s gravesite is cared for year-round by the Neligh community, where flowers are continuously placed in remembrance. It is the only grave at Laurel Hill Cemetery where flowers are permitted throughout the year, and visitors often leave small change at the site to help provide future flowers. This ongoing tradition reflects a promise that has been honored for generations.
Neligh’s history is rooted in compassion and care. In 1877, during the forced removal of the Ponca Tribe from their homeland in Nebraska, an infant known as White Buffalo Girl died just days into the journey. Her grieving father, unable to provide a proper burial while traveling, asked the people of Neligh to care for his daughter.
The community honored that request, burying her with dignity and continuing to care for her grave for generations. Since that time, the grave has been respectfully maintained, fulfilling a commitment that has endured for nearly 150 years.
In 2011, members of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma returned to Neligh to express their gratitude. The visit included a traditional meal, shared stories, and recognition of the community’s long-standing act of compassion.
Her story remains an important part of Neligh’s history, one that reflects respect, remembrance, and a lasting commitment to care.
To learn more about the story of White Buffalo Girl, view A Promise Kept by Nebraska Public Media.