"Currently, I am a doctoral student in educational leadership at UND, a mother and grandmother and have been involved in the anti-logo movement since the 1970s. Still, it was with trepidation that I walked to the anti-logo vigil on the corner of Sixth Avenue North and Columbia Road on March 25.
Standing silently with a small group of students, the first comment I heard yelled from a passing vehicle was, "Go back to where you came from!" This comment was followed by yells of "F� you! Go back to your tipi! Drink firewater! If the logo goes so do your programs! You should be proud! I have an Indian friend and he likes the logo!"
We were flipped the middle finger more than 30 times, with one vehicle turning on its overhead dome light so we could see all the occupants gesturing. Imprinted on my brain is the angry, twisted face of a young blonde woman yelling at us.
In light of such behavior, I'm proud of the quiet dignity that the students and adults maintained during the two hours standing on the corner.
"Go back where you came from!" This chant often was aimed at my family's home in Portland, Ore., during the 14 years we were "relocated" off the reservation. Groups of students from local schools would gather to throw dirt clods and pine cones at our front door. These were kids I went to school with.
In school, being called "squaw" and "stinking Injun" was a daily ordeal. My braids often were used to jerk me around the playground."
Get the Story:
Denise K. Lajimodiere: Racism at protest shames UND
(The Grand Forks Herald 4/12)
NCAA Staff 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
Related Stories:
UND faculty asks school to retire 'Fighting
Sioux' (03/24)
NCAA President: Names
belong to sovereign tribes (03/15)
Opinion: UND ignores opponents of 'Sioux'
(02/13)
UND President: 'Fighting Sioux'
backed by tribe (2/10)
UND president
says tribe won't oppose 'Sioux' name (02/03)
UND president meeting with tribes on campus
(01/13)
Final decision on 'Fighting Sioux'
name delayed (1/10)
NCAA decision on
'Fighting Sioux' in 2006 (11/22)
Resolution supports UND's fight for 'Sioux' name
(11/18)
Resolution urges talks with
tribes on 'Sioux' name (11/11)
UND files
another appeal over 'Fighting Sioux' (11/7)
Opinion: How does 'Sioux' honor Native people?
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Opinion: Indian students hurt by
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Opinion: UND fans
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Opinion:
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Experts say UND will lose 'Fighting Sioux' fight
(10/10)
Opinion: Not everyone at UND
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Letters: Backtalk proves 'Sioux' is hostile,
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Spirit Lake Nation's
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Spirit Lake Nation said
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UND
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Opinion: Why would Indians attend 'abusive' school?
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Column: UND should
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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
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Other universities encouraged by NCAA decision
(8/24)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux'
nickname hurts Natives (8/18)
Column:
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Schools appeal NCAA policy on Indian mascots
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North Dakota governor criticizes
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Even more reaction to
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Editorial:
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Jeb Bush calls mascot policy 'offensive' to tribe
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NCAA announces revised Indian
mascot policy (8/8)
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Opinion:
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Editorial: UND's 'Fighting Sioux' report not
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School holding off on Indian mascot
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Defender of 'Fighting Sioux' name
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UND students holding mascot forum
(11/21)
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NCAA
panel wants Indian mascot review (10/16)
'Honkies' exhibit draws attention at
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Opinion: Change
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Editorial: UND gets off easy on 'Sioux'
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Harassment
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Yellow Bird: 'Fighting Sioux'
debate (4/22)
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(3/26)
Minn. schools oppose
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'Fighting Sioux' arena
opens (10/9)
'Fighting Sioux'
opponents rally (10/5)
'Fighting Sioux' statue wanted removed
(10/4)
UND president finds
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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
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'Fighting Sioux' arena
cost is $100M (8/16)
'Fighting
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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
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'Fighting
Sioux' still debated (3/26)
Schools condemn Indian mascots
(3/22)
'Sioux' school being
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Tribe
protests 'Fighting Sioux' charges (2/28)
'Fighting Sioux' protest held
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'Fighting Sioux' protest
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'Fighting Sioux'
debate rages on (2/19)
'Sioux'
controversy focus of talk, article (2/16)
AG won't investigate 'Sioux' decision
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Civil rights complaint
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Bill seeks
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Dispute over 'Fighting Sioux'
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'Fighting
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Board won't reconsider 'Sioux' vote
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'Fighting Sioux' discussion
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Tribe blasts
'Fighting Sioux' decision (1/18)
School board votes to keep Sioux
name (12/22)
Education
Opinion: Native students at UND subject to racism
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
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