Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Narrowly Advances to General Election

You do have to wonder if his narrow vitory has to do with his lack of flexibility on the Fighting Sioux nick name issue? Ron His Horse Is Thunder is stifling the democratic process by not letting the the members of the Standing Rock tribe vote on the Fighting Sioux nick name. What is he afraid of?

Unofficial Results: Cassie Walder, WDAZ, Published Thursday, July 16, 2009
Unofficial election results show current chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates, North Dakota, narrowly advancing to the tribe’s September general election. Current chairman Ron His Horse Is Thunder was not the top vote-getter in Wednesday night's primary election. Early morning unofficial result tallies show only two votes carried His Horse Is Thunder as one of the two candidates advancing. His top challenger, former tribal chairman Charles Murphy, topped His Horse Is Thunder with 567 votes from the tribes 8 precincts. But it was current tribal vice-chair Avis Little Eagle who was the most immediate threat to His Horse Is Thunder, receiving 221 votes. Just two less than His Horse Is Thunder's 223 vote total. Again, these results were unofficial at press time. If certified, both His Horse Is Thunder and Murphy will move forward to the tribe’s September general election.


His Horse Is Thunder has repeatedly held his opposition to the University of North Dakota’s use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. Though Standing Rock supporters of the nickname have called for a tribe-wide vote, His Horse Is Thunder has maintained such a vote would not be binding. He said the Sioux nickname issue was not a driving force in the primary election run-off. Though several candidates running for the tribal chairman's spot were vocal in their support of UND's use of the nickname, top vote-getter Charles Murphy has not spoken about it.


Without approval from both the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes and a 30-year contract granting UND use of the nickname by October 1 of this year, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education will retire the nickname. The Spirit Lake tribe voted in support of the nickname this spring. However, the Spirit Lake tribal council has not granted a 30-year approval for nickname use. Tonight's Standing Rock election results will be certified tomorrow.