Indianz.Com > News > Letter: Tribes ignored as lawmakers fight to keep Fighting Sioux

Letter: Tribes ignored as lawmakers fight to keep Fighting Sioux
Monday, March 7, 2011
Filed Under: Opinion

"The North Dakota House recently passed House Bill 1263, which has been referred to the North Dakota Senate for review and possible passage.

The bill seeks to legislate the permanent use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo by UND’s intercollegiate athletic teams. The bill also authorizes the North Dakota attorney general to file a “federal antitrust claim” against the NCAA if the association takes “any action to penalize the University of North Dakota for using the Fighting Sioux nickname or logo.”

This bill may best be understood in relation to other bills taken up by the North Dakota House and Senate in this legislative session. We’re thinking of bills such as:

** SB 2130, which sought to improve the academic achievement, graduation rates, and college and work force readiness of American Indian students.

** SB 2051, which would enhance penalties for conviction related to discrimination and assault involving a hate crime.

** HCR 3004, which would study Indian education issues, “including a fair and equitable allocation of all state and federal education funding.”

** SB 2353, which provided for “state and political subdivision consultation and coordination with Indian tribal governments.”

** SB 2359, which would ensure that county commissioners provide at least one open polling place on a reservation on election day.

** SB 2339, which would appropriate $150,000 for programs to preserve American Indian languages."

Get the Story:
Amy Phillips, JoNell Bakke, Lori Brownshield and Brian Hayer : Lawmakers supported nickname but snubbed tribes (The Grand Forks Herald 3/7)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz

Related Stories:
'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)
'Fighting Sioux' supporters launch last minute nickname appeal (11/30)