By Michael Benedict
Herald Staff Writer
Prominent Native American leaders plan to hold a press conference today to state their opposition to UND's continued use of the Fighting Sioux nickname.
The event follows a recent unanimous decision by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education to retain the nickname and related Indian imagery.
It's set for 1:30 p.m. at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.
"We're really disappointed in the whole position," said Carol Ann Heart, president of the National Indian Education Association. "It sounds kind of strange that they (the board) are protecting (UND President Charles) Kupchella."
Instead of protecting Kupchella, she said, the board should be more concerned about the treatment of Native American students on campus.
Many Native students are belittled because of the use of the nickname, she said. Others have been threatened and assaulted after they complained about the name.
"They (the board) would not tolerate that if someone was allowed to make fun of their child's racial background," she said. "We're just regular people."
She said her organization would likely file a lawsuit against UND with the intention of changing the name. She plans to put the lawsuit on the agenda when the NIEA board meets next month in Billings, Mont.
Heart added she expects other national organizations, including religious organizations and human rights groups, to join such a suit.
Leaders
Besides Heart, Indian leaders who plan to attend today's event and speak about the issue include Tex Hall, chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association; David Gipp, president of United Tribes Technical College; and Jesse Taken Alive, a tribal councilman from the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota and South Dakota.
National Congress of American Indians President Susan Maston may also speak at the conference. If she doesn't attend, a statement she wrote opposing the name will be read.
"We've gone on record to oppose the issue of Indians as mascots," Heart said of her organization, which represents Native people attending universities throughout the country.
"We are in an age now of respect and cultural diversity," Heart said. "We wouldn't (stereotype and degrade people) in the South to African Americans."
She said she is also puzzled by comments from name proponents, who often say UND is honoring Indian people by using the name.
While most Fighting Sioux proponents don't feel the name and related logos identify Native people as mascots, the majority of Native people feel that's exactly what the name does to a race of people, she said.
If UND truly wanted to honor Indian people, especially Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people -- who are more commonly referred to as Sioux -- it would drop its Fighting Sioux nickname and imagery.
Heart is Lakota.
"If they really wanted to honor Native people, they would educate their own people about true history," Heart said. "That would honor Native people."
She said UND perpetuates a stereotype of a warlike people by using the name. That stereotype isn't an accurate reflection of history.
As an example of history that UND should teach its students, Heart said, the founders of this country adopted the structures of tribal governments in forming Congress.
She said nationally known Native leaders, including herself, are willing to come to UND to assist in educating the community about Native people.
A similar event was recently held in Washington, D.C. It was titled, "Everything you want to know about Indian people, but were afraid to ask."