Image via WikipediaThis issue doesn't seem to be going away and time soon and it appears that it's going to linger on for some time to come. The only thing that is going to sway the NCAA and the
Big Sky Conference is if
Standing Rock Tribe gives UND permission to use the
Fighting Sioux nickname. The NCAA and the Big Sky Conference do no care if the Spirit Lake
Sioux approve of the name or not.
Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- Fighting Sioux nickname supporters at the Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation have again contacted the Big Sky Conference commissioner to underscore their commitment to seeing UND continue using the name.
In a letter dated Sept. 30, leaders of the Committee for Understanding and Respect reminded Commissioner Doug Fullerton that they speak for the tribe, citing a resolution adopted by the Tribal Council on Sept. 2.
The resolution, adopted unanimously, noted that the council and an earlier tribal referendum “affirmatively approved and supported UND’s use of the name and imagery of the Fighting Sioux.”
With the “overwhelming support of the people of this tribe,” the resolution continued, the tribe “entrusted UND with the responsibility of working with the tribe to increase the number of Native American graduates from Spirit Lake and create a Native American program on the UND campus which would bring respect and understanding amongst all students, faculty and staff at UND.”
Like I have said in the past, I think it's funny that the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference are unmoved by the efforts of the Group from Spirit Lake to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname, this is not a group from Ralph Englestad Arena, Grand Forks or Fargo, ND. This an actual group from the Spirit Lake Nation, and this group represents this wishes of the
Spirit Lake Tribe. The NCAA claims the nickname is hostile and abusive but the Spirit Lake Tribe disagrees with the NCAA. Without the approval of the
Standing Rock Sioux the point is mute and the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference will continue to be unmoved.
Image via WikipediaThis issue doesn't seem to be going away and time soon and it appears that it's going to linger on for some time to come. The only thing that is going to sway the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference is if Standing Rock Tribe gives UND permission to use the Fighting Sioux nickname. The NCAA and the Big Sky Conference do no care if the Spirit Lake Sioux approve of the name or not. 
