"I was a young woman when I went to UND in 1997. I tried my best to fit in to the whole college scene, living in the dorm, going to dances, and attending a football game for the first time.

At the game, I witnessed several of my white peers painted exorbitantly, with fake feathers adorning their bodies. Our fans were chanting and doing the tomahawk chop, while our opponent�s fans were chanting slogans like, �Pillage the village, rape the women!�

It is inevitable that, with a team name like the �Fighting Sioux,� opponents and spectators will say or do something that may hurt an actual Dakota/Lakota person who is watching�and in the passion of the moment, it can be difficult to differentiate between literal language and fun in the name of sports. But these displays made a mockery of our traditions. In our culture, eagle feathers are sacred, and they are earned when an individual accomplishes a great and honorable deed. As with eagle feathers, our paint is worn by veterans and also in tribal ceremonies. When I saw what was happening at the game, I was filled with so much anger and hurt that I couldn�t hide it from my two nephews who were with me. Our own fans were disrespectful, and no race of human beings should have to put up with chants like those of our opponents.

I never again attended an athletic event at UND in my entire five years there. I would have loved to cheer on my school and attend the many celebrations the school offered. Throughout those five years at UND, I was glad I did not attend another game because the vulgar, despicable t-shirts, signs, and cheers made by both our team and our opponents would have undoubtedly infuriated me more."

Get the Story:
Waste�Win Yellow Lodge Young: A Name to Fight Against (The Harvard Crimson 10/17)

NCAA Decision:
Statement by NCAA Senior Vice-President for Governance and Membership Bernard Franklin on University of North Dakota Review(September 28, 2005)

NCAA Policy:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005)

Relevant Links:
University of North Dakota - http://www.und.edu
The Ralph - http://www.theralph.com
Fighting Sioux - http://www.fightingsioux.com
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm

Related Stories:
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' name unfair to tribes (10/13)
Experts say UND will lose 'Fighting Sioux' fight (10/10)
Opinion: Not everyone at UND supports 'Sioux' name (10/10)
Yellow Bird: All tribes have stake in 'Sioux' fight (10/6)
Letters: Backtalk proves 'Sioux' is hostile, abusive (10/6)
Dorgan, Conrad oppose 'Fighting Sioux' decision (10/4)
Backtalk: Reader comments on 'Fighting Sioux' case (9/30)
UND loses 'Fighting Sioux' appeal before NCAA (9/29)
Spirit Lake Nation's stance an issue in 'Sioux' fight (9/28)
Letter: UND president wants to trick tribes on 'Sioux' (9/27)
Spirit Lake Nation said to cancel UND meeting (9/27)
UND president to meet with Spirit Lake Nation (9/26)
Opinion: Why would Indians attend 'abusive' school? (9/26)
NCAA asks for tribal views on 'Fighting Sioux' (9/22)
Yellow Bird: Clearing the air on the 'Sioux' name (9/14)
Poll: 63 Indians want 'Fighting Sioux' nick changed (9/9)
UND president meets with Spirit Lake Nation on nickname (9/9)
Tribal panel discusses future of 'Fighting Sioux' name (9/8)
Spirit Lake Nation tables vote on 'Fighting Sioux' (9/6)
Turtle Mountain chair won't oppose 'Fighting Sioux' (9/2)
Column: UND should get rid of 'Fighting Sioux' nick (9/2)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' hurts Native students (9/1)
Spirit Lake Nation members oppose 'Fighting Sioux' (8/31)
Tribes set to oppose 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (8/29)
UND president wavers on tribal support for 'Sioux' (08/26)
Editorial: Tribes have final say in mascot decisions (8/25)
Other universities encouraged by NCAA decision (8/24)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname hurts Natives (8/18)
Column: Nazi-loving Ralph keeps Indian logo alive (8/17)
Schools appeal NCAA policy on Indian mascots (8/15)
North Dakota governor criticizes NCAA policy (8/11)
Even more reaction to NCAA policy on mascots (8/10)
Editorial: Good riddance to 'demeaning' mascots (8/10)
Jeb Bush calls mascot policy 'offensive' to tribe (8/10)
NCAA announces revised Indian mascot policy (8/8)
Mixed reaction to change in use of mascots (8/8)
Opinion: Everyone, 'Fighting Sioux' is here to stay (05/16)
Editorial: UND's 'Fighting Sioux' report not truthful (5/6)
Group protests university's 'Fighting Sioux' name (03/28)
UND asked to study 'Fighting Sioux' name again (02/17)
School holding off on Indian mascot policy (01/17)
Campaign targets 'Fighting Sioux' items (01/08)
Defender of 'Fighting Sioux' name dies (11/27)
Activist sees growing anti-mascot push (11/26)
UND students holding mascot forum (11/21)
N.D. student group to host mascot forum (10/29)
NCAA panel wants Indian mascot review (10/16)
'Honkies' exhibit draws attention at school (10/8)
Opinion: Change 'Fighting Sioux' nick (10/4)
Editorial: UND gets off easy on 'Sioux' name (9/23)
Harassment festered over 'Fighting Sioux' (9/17)
Yellow Bird: 'Fighting Sioux' debate (4/22)
UND law school opposes 'Fighting Sioux' (4/4)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' not fight (3/26)
Minn. schools oppose mascots (2/22)
'Fighting Sioux' matchup to go on (10/23)
School: 'Fighting Sioux' is hate speech (10/22)
'Fighting Sioux' arena opens (10/9)
'Fighting Sioux' opponents rally (10/5)
'Fighting Sioux' statue wanted removed (10/4)
UND president finds LaDuke 'interesting' (10/4)
Letters: 'Fighting Sioux' controversy (10/4)
UND mascot conference opens today (10/3)
UND arena to have 'Sioux' statue (10/2)
'Fighting Sioux' arena to open (10/1)
Street for 'Fighting Sioux' friend sought (9/27)
'Fighting Sioux' school sets goals (9/26)
LaDuke to speak at mascot conference (9/11)
'Fighting Sioux' arena cost is $100M (8/16)
'Fighting Sioux' logo removed at school (8/3)
Letters: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (8/2)
Head of UND Indian Studies quits (5/30)
Means may protest 'Fighting Sioux' school (5/9)
'Fighting Sioux' School: Place For Indians? (3/29)
'Fighting Sioux' still debated (3/26)
Schools condemn Indian mascots (3/22)
'Sioux' school being investigated (3/15)
Tribe protests 'Fighting Sioux' charges (2/28)
'Fighting Sioux' protest held (2/26)
'Fighting Sioux' protest planned (2/22)
'Fighting Sioux' debate rages on (2/19)
'Sioux' controversy focus of talk, article (2/16)
AG won't investigate 'Sioux' decision (2/14)
Civil rights complaint against school (2/13)
Bill seeks to help 'Fighting Sioux' school (2/8)
Dispute over 'Fighting Sioux' continues (1/30)
'Fighting Sioux' supporter tied to school funds (1/29)
Board won't reconsider 'Sioux' vote (1/26)
'Fighting Sioux' discussion set (1/25)
Tribe blasts 'Fighting Sioux' decision (1/18)
School board votes to keep Sioux name (12/22)