Oneida Indians to meet with U.N. over Redskins name

It's an interesting story, but the UN has no power in our country. I am not sure what they could possibly do in this situation? If the Washington Redskins don't have any intention of changing their names, I am not sure what the UN could or would do. The UN has no power to compel people in the USA to do anything.  Thoughts?

Erik Bradly, USA Today -- The Oneida Indian Nation is scheduled to meet with human rights representatives of the United Nations on Friday to discuss the Washington NFL club's team name - and the team says the U.N. should be working on world peace.

Oneida Nation representative Ray Halbritter is set to speak with Ivan Simonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights at the U.N. in New York, just as the National Football League is preparing for its seminal event, the Super Bowl, with events in New York and northern New Jersey all next week.

Indians ask Supreme Court if "Redskins" offends

It would be interesting to see if the Supreme court would actually hear their case or not. Your starting to get into first amendment issues. With the current make up of the court I would doubt they would rule in their favor. This goes back to the issue that not all native Americans are offended by Native American caricatures/logos. What is going to happen next? Are these groups going to go after sports teams that are named sacred animals such as Eagles, Wolves, Bears, Owls, Bison?

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of American Indians who find the Washington Redskins name offensive wants the Supreme Court to take up the matter.

The group on Monday asked the justices to review a lower court decision that favored the NFL team on a legal technicality.

The seven Native Americans have been working through the court system since 1992 to have the Redskins trademarks declared invalid. A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel ruled in their favor in 1999. But they’ve been handed a series of defeats from judges who ruled that the plaintiffs waited too long to bring their suit in the first place.

A lawyer for the group says he’d like to see the highest court decide whether the Redskins name defames Native Americans.

The Alumni and Students should decide.

This article is in today's Bismarck Tribune. First off lets not start kicking dirt on the Fighting Sioux logo just yet. Let the people that are doing the outreach to the two Sioux tribes finish with their work. Second, this isn't some stupid contest. This should be a process that needs to be taken seriously and should be respectful. Some times I swear my head is going to explode from reading all of the misinformation and false facts I have read the past week since the decision.

I get it, the name is probably going to be changed it should be up to the students and Alumni of the University of North Dakota. Not up to some newspaper in Bismarck, ND. In my opinion if you didn't attend UND, you're not part of the facualty and or staff or not currently attending the University of North Dakota you shouldn't have any input in the next nick name and logo for the University of North Dakota.

Give us your ideas for a new UND nickname
What is the perfect nickname for the University of North Dakota? Alumni,
fans and regular readers have been passionate about the nickname issue.
Now that the Fighting Sioux name is likely on its way out, it's your
turn to suggest a new nickname. Post your ideas below as a comment.
Our normal commenting guidelines apply - nothing offensive.

Spirit Lake council mulls nickname vote

At this point in the game you have to wonder if it even matters if the Tribes have a vote or not. If Spirit Lake had a reservation wide referendum on the Fighting Sioux name and voted to keep the name that vote wouldn't mean much if Standing Rock DOESN'T vote to allow a referendum. We will see how this plays out but it almost seems like it is a little too late.

Spirit Lake council mulls nickname vote
Tu-Uyen Tran Grand Forks Herald
Published Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A decision whether to hold a referendum on UND's Fighting Sioux nickname will be before the Spirit Lake Tribal Council on Saturday, according to a supporter of the referendum.

John Chaske said his group met with the tribal council Wednesday, and it appeared three council members are willing to put the issue on the ballot in April. Another council member was absent, he said, and a decision on the referendum requires all to be present.

Chairwoman Myra Pearson has expressed her opposition to the nickname in the past, but she would only vote in the event of a tie.
----------(snip)----------
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, however, has made clear its opposition to the nickname and even a referendum. It voted 7-5 in May 2008 to not hold a public vote.

Chaske said he understands there are Standing Rock members pushing the council for a vote. “I hope what we do here will give them a spark over there.”

A “yes” vote on the nickname would be the first step in building a new relationship between the tribe and UND, according to Chaske.

Ideally, he said, an agreement with the university might involve more scholarships for tribal members and classes teaching other students the reality of Indian culture. “We don’t all get a check every month from the federal government.”

So did I read this right? Is UND offering more scholarship money to Native American Students to allow them keep the Fighting Sioux name? Stay tuned folks.

Spirit Lake member want vote on Fighting Sioux.

Well this is an interesting turn of events that isn't going to go over well with the pro-name change crowd. The Spirit Lake members want to vote on ‘Fighting Sioux’ nickname, why not? I would hope that the members of the tribe at Standing rock would pressure Ron His Horse Thunder and call for a vote as well. Stay tuned folks, it will be interesting to see how this turns out.

While in the end I think the Fighting Sioux name is all but gone, one should exhaust all attempts before the University decides its next move. What is the hurry? Why not have a vote on the issue at the tribal level? I have always said that I would like to see the two Sioux tribes that UND needs approval from to keep the Fighting Sioux vote on whether they want UND to change the name or not. What harm does it do to have a vote? I also think that Ron "His Horse" Thunder is not letting the issue go to a vote because he knows he would lose if the vote was actually conducted. I think the reason Ron His Horse Thunder doesn't want a vote because it takes the power out of his hands and puts it in the hands of the people.

Spirit Lake members want vote on ‘Fighting Sioux’ nickname
By Sue Kraft Fischer - Lifestyles Editor
UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname continues to draw criticism, but some members of the Spirit Lake Tribe are in favor of the name — and they would like to see a vote of the people before any final decisions are made.
------------(snip)-----------
Those in attendance agreed the name was given to the tribe as an insult, but insist their ancestors turned it into something to be proud of.

“We’re trying to save the Fighting Sioux nickname,” said supporter Eunice Davidson. “It was placed upon us and our ancestors made it a good thing.”

Fellow supporter Oliver Gourd agreed, “Our veterans went to war and fought for our country under the Sioux name.”

“They took that name and turned it into something respectful,” Davidson added.

“Before we officially sign off and approve the name, we want to make sure our kids are protected,” he said.

“It’s a win-win situation,” added Gourd. “They use the name, we get the scholarships — I don’t know why other tribes are against it.”