The "Fighting Sioux" logo of the University of North Dakota. ™ UND.

"Some argue that Native Americans should feel honored. That such thinking ignores the complex history of European colonization is secondary to the simple fact that it is not for us to determine how Native Americans should or should not feel.

I ask you: For what possible reason could Native people wish for the removal of the Sioux name and logo, other than a deep desire to restore dignity that was and is continually denied them? Arrogance? Stubbornness? Boredom? These are not attitudes that one can sustain over 30 years of thoughtful, peaceable protest.

What do any of us truly want other than recognition as human? Specifically human, not an abstraction, a symbol, a stereotype. What we all fundamentally want is for others to know who we really are.

What so deeply saddens me is that we let our true character as North Dakotans become obscured by the politics and financial interests of a university. The country does not know who we really are."

Get the Story:
Wes Webb: Nickname distorts 'face' of N.D. (The Grand Forks Herald 10/26)

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

NCAA Policy on Indian Mascots:
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

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Opinion: Indian students hurt by UND nickname (10/24)
Opinion: UND fans made mockery of Natives (10/17)
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Experts say UND will lose 'Fighting Sioux' fight (10/10)
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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)
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Letter: UND president wants to trick tribes on 'Sioux' (9/27)
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Opinion: Why would Indians attend 'abusive' school? (9/26)
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Letters: 'Fighting Sioux' controversy (10/4)
UND mascot conference opens today (10/3)
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Letters: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (8/2)
Head of UND Indian Studies quits (5/30)
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'Fighting Sioux' debate rages on (2/19)
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AG won't investigate 'Sioux' decision (2/14)
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'Fighting Sioux' discussion set (1/25)
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