"Congratulations to the Tribal Council of the Standing Rock Reservation for its decision to violate the will of its enrolled members by denying the efforts for a referendum to determine whether the University of North Dakota should be allowed to continue the use of the “Fighting Sioux” nickname and logo.

This abdication of authority by directing the North Dakota Board of Higher Education to make the decision to continue use of the nickname or not, in direct violation of the NCAA settlement that dictated that the tribe needed to make the decision, left the board no alternative but to terminate a tradition that had been given in perpetuity to the university in formal tribal ceremony on more than one occasion.

Many of us who are alumni of the university, as well as those of us who are descendants of the Sioux Nation, expected this day to come.

For the past 75 years, undergraduates and alumni of UND have proudly carried the banner of the Sioux people throughout the United States and the world … sharing our pride in these indigenous people who migrated to North Dakota from what is now Wisconsin and Minnesota to make this their homeland."

Get the Story:
David R. Bailly: Who will tell story of Sioux history on Northern Plains? (The Fargo Forum 4/13)
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Also Today:
Nickname supporters plan march (The Grand Forks Herald 4/13)
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North Dakota Supreme Court Decision:
Davidson v. North Dakota (April 8, 2010)

Related Stories:
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)