"We tribal members who attend or attended UND and are against the Fighting Sioux nickname have very good reasons for wanting that nickname to go. Our first-hand accounts about the “hostile and abusive” nature of the nickname and logo cannot be discredited by the pro-logo side.

So, they ignore our concerns and instead conjure up reasons to restore the nickname and logo.

On April 18, The Forum newspaper of Fargo published an editorial headlined, “UND logo fallout gets silly.” It pointed out that the tactics used by pro-logo supporters to restore a racist nickname and logo were — well, silly.

Apparently this prompted the use of a new strategy by nickname supporters: the old “smoke and mirrors” trick.

After being called “silly” by The Forum, almost every letter writer to the Herald in support of the nickname wrote nothing but positive statements about us Indians. Man! I never read so many nice things about us in my whole life.

And why all this sudden outpouring of generosity? Because it is a ruse — maybe not a conscious ruse, but a ruse nonetheless.

The ruse is a softening-up ploy that takes the form of false generosity. Writing positive things about us is supposed to make all the problems associated with the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo “disappear.”"

Get the Story:
Erich Longie: Ignore nickname fans’ ‘smoke and mirrors’ (The Grand Forks Herald 4/29)
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Also Today:
Emil LaRocque: Nickname prompts falloff in Indian enrollment (The Grand Forks Herald 4/29)
Janet Ahler: Professional groups decry Indian nicknames (The Grand Forks Herald 4/29)
Larry Pankonin: Retire the ‘Sioux’ name from anthem, too (The Grand Forks Herald 4/29)
Caroline Olson: Enthusiasm on part of leaders would help (The Grand Forks Herald 4/29)
Jim Antes: Loyal fan says, ‘Time to retire the name’ (The Grand Forks Herald 4/29)

North Dakota Supreme Court Decision:
Davidson v. North Dakota (April 8, 2010)

Related Stories:
Supporters of 'Fighting Sioux' push for tribal referendum (4/22)
Column: 'Fighting Sioux' supporters overlook race issues (4/22)
Column: Time for 'Fighting Sioux' supporters to move on (4/19)
Supporters of 'Fighting Sioux' still hopeful for tribal vote (4/15)
Editorial: Eliminating 'Fighting Sioux' was right decision (4/14)
Opinion: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe fails on Fighting Sioux (4/13)
North Dakota board kills 'Fighting Sioux' nickname and logo (4/9)
Editorial: Keep 'Fighting Sioux' nickname for North Dakota (4/8)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe puts off vote on 'Fighting Sioux' (4/7)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe considers 'Fighting Sioux' petition (4/6)
Column: Debate over 'Fighting Sioux' all about the money (3/25)
North Dakota court hears case on 'Fighting Sioux' name (3/24)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe pushed on 'Fighting Sioux' vote (3/23)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to get 'Fighting Sioux' petition (3/12)
Standing Rock petition calls for vote on 'Fighting Sioux' (3/3)
Column: It's past time to get rid of 'Fighting Sioux' nick (2/26)
Letter: 'Fighting Sioux' not honoring Indian people (2/22)
Board takes no action on status of 'Fighting Sioux' (2/18)
Letter: Give tribes time to think over 'Fighting Sioux' (2/17)
Erich Longie: Divide and conquer for 'Fighting Sioux' (2/15)
'Fighting Sioux' supporters want Standing Rock vote (2/10)
Column: Long saga over 'Fighting Sioux' continues (12/21)
Judge to issue 'Fighting Sioux' decision this month (12/10)
Judge to hear tribal member suit for 'Fighting Sioux' (12/9)
Michael Eshkibok: Colonization and 'Fighting Sioux' (12/7)
Tom Iron: A tribal backer of 'Fighting Sioux' name (11/23)
Police probe potential threats over 'Fighting Sioux' (11/20)
Standing Rock chairman not pushing 'Sioux' vote (11/19)
Editorial: Give tribe more time on 'Fighting Sioux' (11/16)
Editorial: A bizarre delay for 'Fighting Sioux' nick (11/12)
Judge orders delay on 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (11/10)