Spirit Lake Member not invited to April 22nd Meeting.



According to the Grand Forks Herald, ND State and UND officials will meet with the president Mark Emmert of the NCAA on April 22 in Bismarck at site to be determined whether the athletics association is open to revising its position regarding the Fighting Sioux nickname and Indian-head logo. The Spirit Lake tribe has not been invited to this meeting, this is unacceptable in my opinion, I want the NCAA to tell the Spirit Lake Member that supported UND’s use of the Fighting Sioux logo by a 67% margin tell them that the Fighting Sioux Logo is hostile and abusive.

Tribes not invited, but maybe later

When the law was passed, NCAA officials said the policy on usage of American Indian names and imagery stands and the North Dakota law was a “state matter,” and they declined further comment. But many nickname champions have suggested that the NCAA may be willing to reevaluate UND’s status in light of the legislative action, the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe’s endorsement and evidence of strong support for the nickname among some of the people at Standing Rock.

After Shaft said on Wednesday that he was trying to arrange a meeting with the NCAA and the state and UND officials, several nickname supporters asked why representatives of Spirit Lake and Standing Rock would not be included.

“Until we have these initial contacts and learn where the NCAA stands now, what opportunities there may be for something different, this is not the time to have the tribes at the table,” Shaft said today. “But if there does appear to be room to work with the NCAA, then we will engage the tribes in the talks.”