UPI.COM
GRAND FORKS, N.D., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The Spirit Lake tribe Tuesday sued the NCAA for blocking its attempt to let the University of North Dakota use the sports nickname Fighting Sioux.
Tribal attorney Reed Soderstrom said the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court challenges the NCAA's policy banning the use of Native American names and imagery by collegiate athletic teams.
He said the suit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association was brought on behalf of more than 1,004 members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe "in direct response to their attempt to take away and prevent the North Dakota Sioux Indians from giving their name forever to the University of North Dakota" despite a tribal vote in 2009 and a "sacred and religious spiritual ceremony" by tribal leaders in 1969 that granted "perpetual use" of the name to the school.
"However, the NCAA has unilaterally decided that the name 'Fighting Sioux' is derogatory to the very people who feel honored by the name -- the North Dakota Sioux tribes," Soderstrom said in a statement posted on the tribe's Web site. "The NCAA has declared, without input from the Dakota Sioux, that UND will be prevented from hosting any post-season sporting events; and is encouraging other universities to boycott UND if the university does not remove the name 'Fighting Sioux' and the accompanying logo honoring the traditions and customs of the proud Dakota Sioux people. These actions are a violation of the religious and first amendment rights of the Dakota Sioux tribes, and show the NCAA believes it knows the interests of the North Dakota Sioux community better than Sioux people themselves."
Soderstrom noted while the NCAA considers "Fighting Sioux" derogatory, it allows the University of Illinois to use "Fighting Illini" and Florida State University to use the name "Seminoles" with an Indian mascot.
"Inexplicably, the NCAA fails to accept the tribal vote and the sacred religious ceremony as endorsements of the name 'Fighting Sioux' by the North Dakota Sioux Nation," he said. "The NCAA's actions violate Native American civil rights, equal protection rights, and religious rights."
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I think that the Sioux should be able to keep there nickname because the tribes have there own choice. The North Dakota Sioux already gave their name forever. If it doesn't bother them it shouldn't bother the NCAA.
ReplyDeleteMacKenzie N. 1
gayy
ReplyDeletekyle eggum
I think that the people should have left the name alone. I think the the name was fine. the athletic department should not worry about the name
ReplyDeleteTim M
I think its ridiculous that the NCAA wants to rid the name even though the sioux do not want them to get rid of it.I think it was fine the way it was.But the name that they were going to replace it with is just more ridiculous and goofy.
ReplyDeleteChristopher W. 1
I think that the NCAA has no right to deiced what the Sioux should do. It's their name and their right to keep it or let someone else to use it. The NCAA should let the Sioux deiced on this choice.
ReplyDeleteJimmy P.7
I think that the Tribe shouldn't be able to sue the NCAA because they let a team use there tribes name, its not like the tribe had the name copywrighted or anything so if anything the team should be able to sue the indians for using the same name as them. i think the courts should dismiss the case and forget all about this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteJoel U P.7
I don't think its fair that after they built all that stuff for the Sioux they have to undo it all . It costed them a lot of money and it took time to build. I think the Sioux name should be left alone.
ReplyDeleteMicaela C. P7
I think the sioux should be able to argue. It's there name and the NCAA shouldn't be able to take there name. It's like taking the name "sony" and using it as a team name without permission. So I think the sioux should win this argument in the courts.
ReplyDeleteChris c. 7
I think the Sioux tribe should be honored by the nickname. Some may not be happy with it but it's not like they are miss using it or anything. the nickname 'Fighting Sioux' has nothing wrong with it. I don't get why the sioux tribe is getting so offened by it. Also i think the NCAA is going a little over the top for encouraging other universities to boycott UND if the university does not remove the nickname 'Fighting Sioux'. I think they should be able to keep there nick name, and NCAA should stay ot of the situation.
ReplyDeleteLinda R. 1
I think it is wrong that the NCAA won't let the "Fighting Sioux" stay that. If the Indians want the teems to stay that and the teems want to stay that then let them. The fighting Sioux logo is a good one. They are never going to have a better one. I just think that they should keep it as thier logo.
ReplyDeleteCortney S. Period 1
I kind of understand where the NCAA is coming from in banning the use of Native American tribes. I'm not really sure what their reasoning is but one reason I can think of is that it would eliminate stupid disagreements like this. But then again, if the tribe itself is okay with it then why go through all this trouble? This issue has been going on for a while and in my opinion, it's not worth it at all. For one, if the Sioux tribe is honored by the name then I don't see where the NCAA got the idea that it's derogatory. Yes, the name "Sioux" was offensive to the tribe a while back but if it still hurt them that much then they wouldn't be going by that name these days, right? I think that the law suit was unnecessary. If the Native Americans didn't approve of the name then they should have spoken up before the Ralph was built,before all of the time and money was spent on putting in the Sioux logos and what not. And even before that the school made sure they had permission to use the name from the tribal leaders. Noneof this should have evenbeen an issue. Anyways, I think that the law suit was unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteTyler Hodgson, Period 3
I think that the Sioux shouldn't have to change their name because they do good at every sport and are proud about it. What about the washington capitols or the detroit red wings? If they use native american names I see nothing wrong withthe Sioux keeping their name.
ReplyDeleteEmma B.2