"Several years ago, the NCAA and the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education concluded a legal parley with a treaty.

By November 2010, according to the treaty’s terms, both of the Sioux tribes in North Dakota would approve the continued use of their name by the university’s athletic teams, or the practice would end altogether.

November 2010 came and went. One of the Sioux tribes did not approve the continued use of the name, so the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education — true to its word — announced the Sioux name no longer would be used by UND’s athletic teams.

This was a great moment in the history of white/American Indian relations. Would whites, true to their history, renege on a treaty, or would they keep their word and honor the wishes of a Sioux tribe? "

Get the Story:
Donald Bruce Beard: Trail of broken treaties runs through Bismarck (The Grand Forks Herald 3/14)

Related Stories:
North Dakota governor will sign bill to save 'Fighting Sioux' name (3/11)
Indian lawmaker pushes for defeat of bill to save 'Fighting Sioux' (3/10)
North Dakota Senate committee votes against Fighting Sioux bill (3/9)
Opinion: Fighting Sioux name not an honor to Native Americans (3/7)
Letter: Tribes ignored as lawmakers fight to keep Fighting Sioux (3/7)
'The Indian and the White Guy' headed to North Dakota after all (3/4)
Comedy duo asked not to use 'Indian' during North Dakota show (3/3)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname an insult to Native Americans (3/2)
Letter: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe did not give up 'Sioux' name (2/23)
North Dakota House backs bill to save Fighting Sioux nickname (2/22)
UND University Senate opposes bills to revive 'Fighting Sioux' nick (2/8)
Michael Eshkibok: Fighting Sioux a symbol of America's racist past (1/26)
Erich Longie: Too many lies for too many years on Fighting Sioux (1/24)
Letter: Board and tribes hold too much power over Fighting Sioux (1/20)
Letter: Respect tribal decisions about 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (1/18)
Letter: Ask tribes in South Dakota about 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (1/17)
Letter: 'Fighting Sioux' supporters must work through their grief (1/13)
Editorial: Republicans wasting time trying to save 'Fighting Sioux' (1/12)
North Dakota Republicans aim to keep 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (1/11)