Here's the proof that the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education hurried up to "drop" (in Richie Smith's words) the name before the Standing Rock Tribe had a chance to hold their referendum.
Scott Hennen had Archie Fool Bear on the radio this morning. Fool Bear is the one that's been spearheading the effort to have a vote of Tribal Members. The Sioux name has widespread support on the Standing Rock Tribe. As Fool Bear says several of the communities on the reservation have had referendums that were overwhelmingly supportive of the name.
It was reported that the ruling body of the Standing Rock Tribe refused to act on the petition. Fool Bear says that's not the case at all. Asking for a referendum via petition is unprecedented and the process needs to be worked out and policies set before they can proceed. It's not surprising that we were misinformed by the local press. The Grand Forks Herald has been most vehement in their opposition to the Sioux name.
Fool Bear emailed the State Board of Higher Education so they knew that the referendum was still in the works. The State Board of Higher Education knew they had to act quick to discourage that referendum from occurring or to make the point moot if it did happen.
I'd like to ask the Board of Higher Education why they don't want to let the Standing Rock people have a say. I don't know what they say, but I'm sure the real reason is that the Sioux name opponents want the blame for dropping (Richie Smiths words.) the name to be put on the Indian Tribes. They've been pulling that crap ever since it started. The truth is that our neighbors have always supported our respectful use of the Sioux name for our identity.
The elitists in the University and on the State Board of Higher Education are wrong for this action and wrong for trying to push the blame on the Standing Rock Tribe.
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