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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2001

Detractors of the University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo held a public session on Thursday, explaining their opposition.

The session included pastor and teacher George E. "Tink" Tinker, Grand Forks Herald columnist and reporter Dorreen Yellow Bird, AIM founder Vernon Bellecourt and Native American Journalists Association executive director Mark Anthony Rollo. They all said the nickname and logo was disrespectful and oppresive.

The session was part of the Northern Plains Conference on American Indian Team Names & Logos, which is taking place at UND this week. The conference concludes tonight with a rally against the "Fighting Sioux" at the new $100 million Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The arena was paid for by wealthy alumnus Ralph Engelstad, who was once fined by the state of Nevada for holding elaborate parties on Hitler's birthday. In an editorial, the Herald says "thank you" to Engelstad for the "world-class" arena but calls on people not to rub the school's continued use of "Fighting Sioux" in Native people's faces.

The first hockey game takes place tonight and will include the uneviling of a statue said to depict Lakota spiritual leader Sitting Bull.

Get the Story:
Nickname opponents gather and speak out (The Grand Forks Herald 10/5)
After 22 months of construction and more than $100 million, today's the day for ... Engelstad excitement (The Grand Forks Herald 10/5)
Editorial: Great gift deserves a heartfelt thank-you (The Grand Forks Herald 10/5)
BEHIND THE SCENES: UND hockey fans unwrapping the best gift ever (The Grand Forks Herald 10/5)

Relevant Links:
The Northern Plains Conference on American Indian Team Names & Logos - http://www.und.nodak.edu/org/span/bridges/conference.html
The University of North Dakota - http://www.und.edu

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