Standing Rock Tribal

The Standing Rock Tribal Council voted Tuesday to table petitions that had been submitted by tribal supporters of the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

The petitions, bearing 1,004 signatures — about half the number of people who voted in the last tribal election — ask the council to allow Standing Rock members to have a voice in determining whether the university may keep the 80-year-old nickname.

A spokeswoman in Tribal Chairman Charles Murphy’s office said the council tabled the issue as it organized the agenda for its scheduled two-day meeting, but she did not know whether council members intended to bring the matter up again.

Under a settlement with the NCAA, UND and the State Board of Higher Education had until Nov. 30 to win the blessings of the two namesake Sioux tribes. Spirit Lake voters approved UND’s continued use of the name last year, but thus far no vote has been scheduled at Standing Rock.

After several contacts with Standing Rock officials appeared to leave the issue stalled, the board on April 8 directed UND President Robert Kelley to begin the transition away from the Fighting Sioux name and logo. Earlier that day, the board’s authority to decide the matter was affirmed by the state Supreme Court.

Some board members appeared to leave the door open for reconsideration if Standing Rock were to arrange a vote, and Gov. John Hoeven on April 20 advised the board to “give due consideration to any vote by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe” if it occurs before Nov. 30.

The governor sent that suggestion to the board along with a letter he had received from Spirit Lake nickname supporters, who had urged him to use his influence to allow the people of Standing Rock to be heard on the Fighting Sioux issue.

“We gave UND the right to use that name,” said nickname proponent Archie Fool Bear, referring to a 1969 ceremony involving tribal leaders and UND President George Starcher.

Chuck Haga is a reporter at the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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