"I'm uncomfortable that the attorney general of North Dakota is taking on a case against the American Indians in North Dakota. I say taking on a case against Indians because the lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Administration over a mandate barring UND's use of the Fighting Sioux nickname is, for all intents and purposes, a suit against Indians, too.

It is a suit against Indians because tribes in North Dakota -- the Standing Rock tribe at Fort Yates; Three Affiliated Tribes, New Town; the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Belcourt; and the Sisseton-Wahpeton tribe, Sisseton, S.D. -- all have submitted resolutions against the university's use of the name. The stand against the name by these Indian nations became one of the key reasons why the NCAA took its action, on a par with the NCAA's wish to eliminate racism in sports and encourage respect and sensitivity for all who participate.

These are excellent goals for the NCAA.

Maybe I'm mistaken. Perhaps, elected officials represent only a select group of people in our state; in fact, maybe I shouldn't even say "our" state -- their state and our reservations is perhaps more correct.

I'm also puzzled that UND's administration would go so far as to take the NCAA to court for trying to rid sporting events in this country of racism. Shouldn't that be a goal of the university, too?"

Get the Story:
Dorreen Yellow Bird: Stenehjem should represent everyone in state (The Grand Forks Herald 9/30)
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