Blackburn87

I hope you're right, but I fear the powers-that-be never want the name back because they claim there will be scheduling problems with schools that object to the name. No wonder the Spirit Lake tribal members are so angry- to be told your name is offensive by a bunch of white people in the Ivory Tower? I hope Spirit Lake hands the NCAA their a$$ in court.

I too believe that in the long run (and with the right legal challenges) the NCAA will lose this battle. Those in the best position to fight this at the next court battle are the Spirt Lake Sioux who have a valid claim- why are they being treated differently than similarly situated tribes in other jurisdictions? Why were they never a party to the NCAA/ND negotiations and yet their support of the Sioux name was vital to the settlement? The question is if North Dakota or the Spirit Lake Sioux will take it to the next level. (At some point, the Feds need to look into how the NCAA operates, but I digress.) I recognize that none of this may be in the nick of time (even if my long-run scenario is right)... but I hope the Spirit Lake Sioux will consider federal action.

Wow- proof again that this name matters to a lot of the Sioux Nation and I'm grateful for their support and will to fight. A federal lawsuit will get a lot of attention and maybe some real change. Hard to argue the Spirit Lake Sioux are oppressed by the Sioux name and logo attached to North Dakota's flagship university.

The "Norse Force"?" Maybe... Oh well... any other word on whether the Spirit Lake tribe is pursuing any other legal avenues. (It may be too late, but I'm just curious...)

It was a moving article and nice tribute to this young man.

I am so humbled that the our Native American brethren on Spirit Lake see it the way we do. Wouldn't it be something if the NCAA was actually forced to acknowledge them and their claims that the NCAA is the discriminatory actor, not the state of North Dakota.

I could, maybe, get behind the Norse moniker. But- ugh- everything else just sucks compared to the Fighting Sioux name.

I agree with you completely.

It is time for North Dakota to stand up and be counted. I'm tired of watching bigger schools (and states) get a pass while North Dakota and UND gets kicked around on this issue. The question is asked time and time again and never answered: why are the Seminoles considered different than the Sioux? Both tribes have lent their support for their respective schools to use the tribal names. Both schools have outlying tribes who do not support it. I'm not sure why the "two tribes" agreement for us and not them, especially since so much of Standing Rock lies outside of North Dakota's border. The NCAA needs to be educated on the slap on the face they're giving to the people of Spirit Lake who have passionately backed keeping the name, through lawsuits, letters, testimony, and pure effort. Hell, they've fought harder then most of our alumni! If we just shrug our shoulders and cave we have insulted an indigenious group of people who are part of the fabric of our state. I would dare the NCAA or the Big Sky to look across the table at the Spirit Lake leadership and tell them that the Sioux name is offensive. They couldn't do it with a straight face and they know it. The leadership needs to meet with the NCAA and bring the tribal leadership with them. It's insulting for the disconnected people in the ivory tower to assume they know what's best for Spirit Lake, the people who honor the Standing Rock ceremony, UND and the people of North Dakota.

I am disheartened but I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet. There is some fight left and there are possible ideas that are untested. Spirt Lake Sioux has a nice ring to it and might satisfy the various players. Oddly enough, had we never moved toward retiring name but simply accepted the sanctions, I wonder what would have happened? To be honest, I'm tired of North Dakota being treated like the proverbial "red-headed stepchild" because it stands up for itself and refuses to capitulate on this issue. The people are right and the vast majority of Americans agree with us that this politically correct pablum that all Native American imagery and monikers are racist is just plain wrong. I don't have the answer yet, but I don't think the sky is falling either. As far as I see it, the nickname issue is settled: it's state law. The sanctions are so far, settled, and we accepted them as a likely outcome to keep the name. The Spirit Lake Tribe supports us. For Big Sky to now say ths issue isn't settled is just plain old bullsh*t.

In case this hasn't been posted yet, the SBoHE is standing down (for now...) http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/202876

I enjoyed the article and it hit the nail on the head. The NCAA is upset that North Dakotans and UND alumni won't get with the program like so many other schools did and just capitulate. I am so proud that North Dakota did not simply throw up its hands and accept defeat on this issue. If all we're looking at are sanctions as previously outlined, I say see how that plays out before we all start screaming that the sky is falling. I am still hopeful that the NCAA will meet with tribal and state leadership, although it will be on their turf in INDIANapolis, if it happens. They're too scared to come to little old North Dakota, I guess. Hmmm... open door meeting policy in the sunshine instead of behind closed doors was too threatening for an organization that is anything but transparent I guess. The NCAA would find that we're not a bunch of dumb rubes who don't "get" the bigger picture. Very intelligent people, from different political and cultural perspectives have reached a different conclusion. The Fighting Sioux moniker is not racist, degrading, or insensitive. Believe me, if that were the case, the Spirit Lake tribal members would be the first to want it gone. Instead, they wear the Sioux logo with pride. The Sioux Nation is part of North Dakota... and all of us, too. I hope North Dakotans don't back down from this issue one bit. We're right. They're wrong. It's that simple.

Closed meeting or not, I hope name supporters will be there in force because you can sure as hell bet the anti-namers will be there and be loud.

Forgive me if it's already posted, but here's the link where Spirit Lake wants a seat at the table... http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/7563

Spirit Lake absolutely needs to be involved in this discussion, including Standing Rock folks who have repeatedly asked for a similar vote on their reservation and have been denied. Of course, that raises the spectre of the Standing Rock Tribal Council members who have not only said no to a vote but have issued their own edict on the Sioux moniker. I can't help but think that if Native Americans stand up and say, "We have sued over the issue. We have written you letters in support of the name. The Sioux name is also part of our tradition," surely the NCAA will see the other side of this issue. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe either Standing Rock or Spirit Lake were directly involved in any of the negotiations between the NCAA and Wayne Stenejehm. That was an arrogant mistake on both parts and the typical paternalistic view the NCAA has displayed toward Native Americans and their varied opinions on this issue.

I was wondering the same thing. I guess the NCAA Basketball tournament has eclipsed this news, but it really is the story about the mouse that roared. This deserves national sports coverage, at least.

I was referring to Faison and Kelly. I'm not proposing abolition of SBofHE, but they can no longer remain tone deaf at the very real anger and disgust out there, nor can they deny the perception that higher education exists in an ivory tower world. That being said, I am eternally grateful for my excellent undergraduate and postgraduate education at UND. It doesn't mean the leadership across the board doesn't deserve some tough scrutiny and pointed questions. Ah, but for today, I will celebrate. Wore my jersey to work all day. Got great compliments even in Kentucky while the UK Wildcats are playing in the SEC. Going to have a beer tonight. Y'all should do the same!

The correct response is "We're looking at all our options and are examining the Constitutional issues surrounding this bill. We will act according to the dictates of the law." -instead of "Screw you and your constituents.:

It is time for these dipshits to go.

Wow... just wow!!! I agree with Siouxbooster#33- celebrate today (I sure am ) but dig in for the next round. Proud to say I'm from North Dakota. They didn't let me down!

Ugh... crap like that just hurts the cause and fuels the PC fires. Groan...

Interesting side note... Back before the legislature was even in session, I was still mourning one frustrating loss after another on the Sioux name. My 14 year old daughter, who aspires to attend UND and be a Fighting Sioux cheerleader looked me in the eye and said camly, "The name is not going away. Mark my words. They will keep it somehow, someway." Wouldn't it be something if she's right?

I am elated at this most recent development and refuse to buy into the doomsday scenarios. I currently live in Kentucky. There are no reservations here. The Native American population is non-existent. The real tragedy is that a whole race of indigenous people are gone from here and are unlikely to ever return in significant numbers. But then, there's North Dakota. There is an uneasy history between Native and Non-Native Americans. We often view each other with a degree of distrust that lingers over 100 years from the last war, But from this, we have found some common ground. The name, the Fighting Sioux, may not have started out with such noble underpinnings, but it ended up that way. This name keeps the Lakota people as the standard bearer for UND. How many groups of people can say that? I don't see the Fighting Swedes or Norse, etc... but I do see the people who have helped shape our state to what it is today. The Sioux name creates a positive image and and I am humbled for the privilege of being affiliiated with the Fighting Sioux. The Native Americans of Spirit Lake have sued, fought, testified, voted, and begged the NCAA to let the name remain. Many of Standing Rock members are only asking that the 1969 pipe ceremony be recognized for the gift it is or that they be given the chance for a referendum. Enough already, I say, to the NCAA, SBofHE, UND admin and the other powers that be that stopped listening too soon. The people, ALL the people, have spoken time and time again. I'm glad, even if it's late, that the State Legislature is at least trying to do something about it. Fighting Sioux, forever.

I totally agree, Fetch! I'll be watching with bated breath as this process continues.

Does anyone in North Dakota have a sense of where this will go? I kept hearing that this wouldn't go anywhere and yet, it came out with a solid "Do-Pass" recommendation out of committee.