North Dakota's Open Letter to NCAA about use of Native Names

[WeRQ4U]

I am an alumni, and I know that we had been talking about this before. It's a fairly well-written letter, with some decent points. Let me know what you think.

*Snip* ----------------------------

Is it the use of Indian names, images, and/or mascots to which you are opposed ? If it is all of the above, which logos, images, and mascots do you indict by your announcement? Is it only certain ones? As I said, a very respected Indian artist designed and created a logo for the University. The logo is not unlike those found on United States coins and North Dakota highway patrol cars and highway signs. So we can’t imagine that the use of this image is “abusive” or “hostile” in any sense of these words.

Is it the use of the names of tribes that you find hostile and abusive?

Not long ago I took a trip to make a proposal to establish an epidemiological program to support American Indian health throughout the Upper Great Plains . On this trip I left a state called North Dakota . (Dakota is one of the names the indigenous people of this region actually call themselves.) I flew over South Dakota , crossing the Sioux River several times, and finally landed in Sioux City , Iowa , just south of Sioux Falls , South Dakota . The airplane in which I traveled that day was called a Cheyenne.

I think you should find my confusion here understandable, since obviously if we were to call our teams “ The Dakotans,” we would actually be in more direct violation of what apparently you are trying to establish as a rule, even though this is the name of our state. This situation, of course, is not unlike that faced by our sister institution in Illinois.
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Full Letter
http://www.und.edu/president/html/statements/NCAAletter.html

[fishnfla]

1. Its a well thought out response

Asking for clarification.

FWIW, the NCAA is already reconsidering the ban on the FSU Seminoles. Apparantly one tribal elder from the Nation was against it, but the council held a resolution and they voted 18-2 against any sort of mascot ban. The local Seminole tribes in FL have no objection, they help degign the logo, etc.

That being said, I did not know there was a team named the Savages, thats gotta go...

[Waya]

3. This is going to be very blunt....

...so excuse any 'racist' remarks - they're only as a comparison.
This letter has some valid points and I do believe some things can be taken to far in the attempt to be 'politically correct'. Florida Seminoles or names of a similar nature might be ok, if the Tribe by the same name doesn't object. What we mostly object to are names Like (Washington) Redskins - because of the deragatory way it has been applied (and sometimes is still applied today) in the past. Names like 'Savages' are racist and discriminating. What do you think the Negro population would say if we named a Sports team 'The New York Niggers'? Or if we had a Team named "The San Francisco Kooks'? Or 'The San Diego Spics'? I don't think people would look at that as an honor.
Another thing is the Mascot itself. Somebody doing the Tomahawk Chop dressed up in fringed clothes, Stage make-up and dyed chickenfeathers is disrespectful to our traditions and sacred Ceremonies. Is it so hard to understand that people who have been hunted down, massacred, driven off their land, were forbidden to practice their religion, forced into Government Boarding School to take the 'Indianness' out of them, have been driven to the brink of extinction and are even today looked at by many as second class citizens, don't exactly take it as an honor to have a Sports Team, a car, a camper, a helicopter, a clothing line etc, etc named after them? Especially if the names used are the same names that were once used to demonize and subjugate us?

[WeRQ4U]

4. I agree whole heartedly with your response.

However, I do think that the University of NOrth Dakota has done a very good job in promoting Native culture and advancing Native initiatives. I don't see the Sioux name or mascot as being abusive, but I'm not a member of the Lakota tribe either. That's why I'm a little torn here. UND's situation is a little different. You know?

[WeRQ4U]

5. Actually, my home town's OLD mascot was the savages.

But they changed that name LONG ago for this very reason. I agree, that one's a little abusive.

Now they are the "Blue Hawks". So strange.

[uppityperson]

2. Gotta hand it to NorthDakotan dry humor.