"The logo was one. Kupchella denied the Engelstad gift had any strings attached in a letter to the editor published by the Herald Wednesday. This law was subsequently repealed during a special session of the legislature in November 2011, after the NCAA told state representatives that sanctions would be enforced. Kupchella insists that's absurd. The university was prohibited from adopting a new team name until 2015. ", On record as opposing the name are 21 American Indian programs on campus, growing ranks of faculty, and students such as Frank Sage, 36, a senior sociology major from New Mexico whose father was a Navajo code talker, and Margaret Scott, 19, a sophomore nursing student. For 80 years! [10] If that support was not granted at the end of the three years, UND agreed to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, remove most of the existing Fighting Sioux imagery in campus facilities, and pick a new nickname and logo to represent UND's athletic teams. Based on what the N.C.A.A. Anyone can read what you share. It's like playing two record players in a room whenever there's a discussion about it. Curiously, the logos no longer matter. Sandelin found plenty of support in the room. A "yes" vote was not a vote to keep the "Fighting Sioux" name and symbol; it was actually a vote to allow the North Dakota Legislature's November 2011 repeal to stand. Faced with that question, Kupchella bristles. As did the $1.5 million fine from the Nevada Gaming Commission," Engelstad is quoted as saying in the cartoon.

When Klekners wife was pregnant with their first child, his father, Dan Klekner, stocked up on Sioux clothing to fit the boy through age 12. "The 'Fighting Sioux' conflict: Lessons on social justice for higher education. now prefers off-campus sites for postseason tournaments, rendering moot the reason for removing or covering the logos. "That's something I suppose you could do from a distance, but not if you live here. Engelstad housed a room with a collection of Nazi war memorabilia at the Imperial Palace hotel-casino in Las Vegas and held parties honoring Adolf Hitler in 1986 and 1988. The choices, selected by a committee from among hundreds of submitted names, are: Fighting Hawks, Nodaks, North Stars, Roughriders, and Sundogs. [33] After a year, however, new Fighting Hawks merchandise is being sold. [14] The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education voted unanimously on Monday, May 10, to extend the deadline for the University of North Dakota to retire its nickname and logo to Aug. 15, 2011. Sports can play a part of finishing the business.". But about 2,500 logos remain throughout Ralph Engelstad Arena. Fans browsing apparel at the Sioux Shop in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The scene at a North Dakota booster luncheon last month. If that appeal fails, the question facing the university will be whether to keep the nickname and live with the NCAA restrictions (meaning Sioux athletes would never get home-field advantage during NCAA playoffs, among other things); change the nickname (some alumni are lobbying for "Fighting Sue," only half in jest); or file a lawsuit. Neither Engelstad nor Morelli nor could not be reached for comment on the North Dakota controversy. Newberry has decided to keep its nickname despite the restrictions, Zais said, but would be delighted to join other schools in a class-action suit if approached. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The campaign to change the nickname and logo was led by Native Americans and student organizations, as well as many UND faculty members. On July 21, 2015, the university submitted five names options to be approved by UND president Robert Kelley to be put to a public vote, with the names being Fighting Hawks, Nodaks, North Stars, Roughriders, and Sundogs. "We work with them to make sure the representation is correct," Seminole tribal council member Max B. Osceola Jr. said. [24] Some controversy surrounding this vote arose in the manner in which it was placed on the ballot. "Do you dismiss 80 years of tradition and pride in a logo and say, 'Well, that's irrelevant'?"

[18] The lawsuit was thrown out in May 2012. An Engelstad company is now building the 12,000-seat arena and has a contract to own and operate it for 30 years, the Grand Forks Herald newspaper reported. He owns Imperial Palace casinos in Las Vegas and Biloxi, Miss. But this lavish arena and the Fighting Sioux spirit it celebrates are suddenly in the crosshairs of an NCAA policy that restricts the use of Native American nicknames in college sports. A 1978 graduate who lettered in football and baseball, Schweigert was part of the 11-person committee entrusted with narrowing the options for a new nickname. There will always be an element, absolutely. Visiting the Spirit Lake reservation hardly clarifies matters. Sure, there are a thousand nicknames we could have, but we had one. I had the ability to speak, but I wasn't even asked. [3] In 2000, twenty-one Native American-related programs, departments, and organizations at UND signed a statement opposing the continued use of the nickname and logo, saying that it did not honor them or their culture.[4]. You could phase changes in over time, replacing logo-emblazoned carpets and railings as needed, he offers. [16][17], On November 1, 2011, the Spirit Lake Tribe filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an attempt to reverse their policy against the use of American Indian imagery. championship banners in the rafters with the Sioux logos. Approximately 2,500 Sioux logos remain throughout Ralph Engelstad Arena, home of the mens and womens hockey teams. " Sage said. But after awhile, it was time to take the emotions out of it and say, rather than being Lowell Schweigert in the past from the 70s, whats the best for the University of North Dakota and their athletic program? [7] On June 15, 2006, after consulting with North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, the Board of Higher Education elected 80 to authorize Stenehjem to sue the NCAA for penalizing the UND over its Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. "[35], A new logo, featuring a hawk head profile over "ND", was approved and were first used on the team helmets for the first football game September 1, 2016. Starting Feb. 1, schools that can't document tribal support won't be allowed to host NCAA postseason games or wear uniforms with the offending names or logos in postseason play. Engelstad, of Las Vegas, in 1998 committed $100 million to the University of North Dakota for the hockey arena and other projects. NCAA officials defend the policy, while conceding they underestimated the controversy it would trigger. Buning gazes at the arena's ceiling, where the university's seven NCAA ice hockey championship banners are suspended, each bearing the Fighting Sioux logo. [1] However, in 2012 two of three state tribes voted against keeping the name. The North Dakota Fighting Sioux controversy refers to the controversy surrounding the now retired nickname and logo of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the athletic teams that represented the University of North Dakota (UND) based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. [20][21], On April 3, 2012, UND President Robert Kelley issued a statement warning about the negative consequences to UND if the statewide vote in June results in continued use of the nickname.[22].

North Dakota had been one of 18 institutions the N.C.A.A. [36] Objections to the logo from die-hard fans immediately followed. One of Engelstad's conditions for his donation was that the University keep the Fighting Sioux name indefinitely. Las Vegas Sun, 2022, All Rights Reserved, Small Planes Collide at North Las VegasAirport. Published in New York Times, April 8, 2010, siouxshop.com/More-Dacotah-Legacy-Collection-118/, North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's basketball, North Dakota Fighting Hawks women's basketball, North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, "The Native Americans Who Voted for 'The Fighting Sioux', Statement to UND President Kupchella from 21 Native American-related programs at UND, Ralph Engelstad's letter to UND President Kupchella, UND President Kupchella's open letter to the NCAA, North Dakota to sue NCAA over university's Fighting Sioux nickname, "ND board: Fighting Sioux nickname is retired", "Nickname/Logo Blog University of North Dakota Nickname", "NCAA puts hammer down on UND Fighting Sioux", "Statement from UND President Robert Kelley", "Secretary of State Election Night Results June 12th, 2012", "UND Nickname List Cut to 5, "North Dakota" is Out", "The Long, Strange Demise of North Dakota's 'Fighting Sioux', "UND nickname vote comes to a close, results expected early next week", "Fighting Hawks selected as new nickname for the University of North Dakota", "Remnants of Fighting Sioux decor remain in businesses around Grand Forks area", "North Dakota avoiding 'Fighting Hawks' references in arena", "The Sioux Nickname Is Gone, but North Dakota Hockey Fans Haven't Moved On", "Fighting Hawks merchandise released into the wild", "North Dakota sells Fighting Sioux items to satisfy NCAA", "UND Fighting Hawks get new logo of 'determined hawk', "NDSU president calls for end of 'hateful' Sioux chant at Bison football games", Contemporary Native American issues in the United States, Native American mascot laws and regulations, Stereotypes of Indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_Dakota_Fighting_Sioux_controversy&oldid=1071525180, Former college mascots in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2022, at 03:05.

Kupchella, hoping to resolve the controversy that has pitted Indian tribes and civil rights activists against the university and its alumni, in February appointed a 16-member commission including two former North Dakota governors to draft a report recommending whether the Fighting Sioux name and the logo are appropriate or should be banned as racially insensitive. It's a flat, straight shot 90 miles west of Grand Forks, with little to see en route and even less to block the howling wind except an occasional grain elevator and road sign -- "Gas Food Propane Diesel," "Fireworks," "Hay 4 Sale.". Theres a strong element that thinks we ought to take that trademark, dig a big hole and bury it, never to be seen again, Schafer said. Thats not the issue here. Instead, North Dakota's State Board of Education ordered the school to continue using the nickname, after Engelstad threatened to stop construction of his arena in December 2000. Tom Buning, North Dakota's athletic director, considers the challenge. The university appealed, lost and chose to fight in court. One lucrative shoe contract would go a long way toward defraying costs. On June 11, 2012, the naming issue was up for a statewide vote, on the ballot as Referendum Measure #4, to keep or retire the nickname. Faison said university officials would not ban Fighting Sioux apparel at games. [28][29], As part of the 2007 settlement agreement between UND and the NCAA, the "Fighting Sioux" trademark was to remain active and retained by UND or given to a Sioux tribe. Were we so misguided?". Imperial Palace casino owner Ralph Engelstad and his North Dakota hockey arena have become entangled in a long-running controversy over a university's Indian nickname and logo. Part of that is logistical. "Are we saying there was something wrong about all this? "They went ahead and approved it without asking any of us Indian people," said Longie, 67. Former Fighting Sioux hockey player and wealthy alumnus Ralph Engelstad donated $100 million for the construction of the Ralph Engelstad Arena. Engelstad complied, he said. Most fans wear Sioux apparel and jerseys, and counterfeit Sioux jerseys are very popular, because they are no longer produced by legitimate retailers, and many fans would rather have a counterfeit Sioux jersey than an authentic, albeit generic "North Dakota", or Fighting Hawks jersey. But thats the N.C.A.A.. In addition, since "NCAA policy requires that student-athletes, band, cheerleading, dance and mascot uniforms and paraphernalia not have hostile or abusive racial/ethnic/national original references", any UND teams participating in postseason games that do not adhere to this would risk forfeiture of the game and "the NCAA reserves its right to seek reimbursement for expenses incurred". I can still say that.. ", On one side is Kupchella, who is supported by the state's political leaders and thousands of alumni who have written and e-mailed to applaud the university's stance, as well as the Sioux Crew, the 2,300-member student booster group that leads the rousing shout to conclude the national anthem before each home game: "O'er the land of the free, and the home of the Sioux. My conscience finally helped me to see the light. "They put us on the same level as animals. Early in the season, hundreds of students seated along center ice booed the new nickname so vehemently that Looker now says it only for North Dakota penalties and Coach Brad Berrys pregame introduction. The dispute dragged on, with the state Board of Higher Education and the Legislature weighing in. Many alumni, students and university employees are weary of the drama. But if we handle it properly, we can say, O.K., this is our base, this is our heritage, this is what we stand for, and now were transitioning to the new. "The money Mr. Engelstad gave -- the $100 million -- (was) on basically three conditions," Morelli said in a transcript the Herald said it received from WDAZ, the ABC television affiliate serving Grand Forks. [19], On March 1, 2012, in a letter sent to the University, the NCAA reiterated its current policies concerning participation in NCAA championships and stated that the school risks losing the right to play postseason games at home if its athletes, cheerleaders or band display the nickname "Fighting Sioux" or the American Indian head logo.

had coming down the pike if we kept the name, it became pretty obvious that we had to make a change.. "He's in awe of that building," Davidson said. For good measure, they also retained noted constitutional lawyer Barry Richard. So when the NCAA cast the Seminole name as "hostile and abusive" in August, Florida State officials reacted with a fury, marshalling the political clout of Gov. I think the university has always used it with both pride and respect, but I also understand why they got rid of it. North Dakotas mens team, which closes its regular season this weekend, is ranked second in Division I after reaching the Frozen Four the past two years as a nickname-less team. Tribal member Eunice Davidson, who runs a wholesale tobacco store on the reservation, sees nothing derogatory about the name. More than half of the announced crowd of 11,890 wore Fighting Sioux-themed attire, even though the universitys nickname is now Fighting Hawks. And No. North Dakota was famously known as the Fighting Sioux from 1930 until the university retired the nickname in 2012, ending a seven-year battle with the N.C.A.A. The new nickname is tremendously unpopular amongst hockey fans.

On June 14, 2012, the state Board of Higher Education voted to get rid of the University of North Dakota's moniker and Indian head logo. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. from the opposing team's fans. He was fined for disgracing Nevada and he issued a public apology for showing "poor taste" for housing the collection at the resort and for having the parties, which he called "stupid and insensitive." Ralph Engelstad's passion for his alma mater's nickname is reflected 3,000-fold in the ice hockey palace that bears his name on the otherwise austere campus of the University of North Dakota. Critics of the name called it a racist stereotype, while supporters maintained that it was inoffensive and a source of pride. If I had a child, and I named it after you, would you consider it an honor? Austin Poganski skating with the puck during North Dakotas game against Minnesota-Duluth on Feb. 19. Kupchella said. Kupchella argues that North Dakota is the best place in the country for Native Americans to pursue higher education. North Dakota was among 18 schools initially cited by the NCAA and is among 15 still under censure after Florida State, Utah and Central Michigan won reprieves, having documented that the tribes for whom their teams are named (the Seminoles, Utes and Chippewas, respectively) endorse the use. Engelstad was asked last month not to use the logo bearing the likeness of an Indian in marketing the arena, UND President Charles Kupchella told the Herald.

Engelstad's zeal also is spelled out in gold script at the arena's entrance, displayed next to a life-size statue of the school's late benefactor: "The Fighting Sioux logo, the Fighting Sioux uniforms, the aura of the Fighting Sioux tradition and the spirit of being a Fighting Sioux are of lasting value and immeasurable significance to our past, present and future.". UND was the only college required under the NCAA policy to gain the support of more than one Native American tribe to continue use of a Native American name and likeness. A table hockey game with the Fighting Sioux logo is among the reminders at Ralph Engelstad Arena of North Dakotas former nickname. Im very passionate about the Sioux logo and name, said Mark Klekner, dressed in a white Sioux hockey sweater at a recent game. Governor Jack Dalrymple signed the Fighting Sioux bill into law the following week. The casino employs about 400, but jobs remain the tribe's major need (unemployment runs 65 percent in winter, 50 percent in summer). Spirit Lake's former tribal chairman, Skip Longie, refuses to join the throng after taking his daughter to a Sioux football game years ago and hearing chants of "Sioux suck!" It's not irrelevant. This nuance was not clearly understood by all voters in the June 12th, 2012 primary election. "I'm not your mascot. Results revealed that there were three finalists: Nodaks, Roughriders, and Fighting Hawks, with the latter topping the first vote, yet it did not receive the required majority. Spirit Lake voted to keep the name,[11] but the Standing Rock tribal counsel would not allow a vote to take place. "Doggone it, substance ought to count for something!" They just put us in a really stupid position. Engelstad, the arenas benefactor who died in 2002, ordered them put in to discourage a nickname change. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. And theres a strong element that says we should go back to that trademark and use it all over the place. He added: I look at it and say, Whats the alternative? When the public address announcer Darrin Looker introduced the University of North Dakota, hundreds of students seated near center ice pumped their fists and yelled, Sioux! Any mentions of the Fighting Hawks drew boos. [37], Students at rival North Dakota State University continue to chant "Sioux suck shit" whenever their football team makes a first down. The popular option of remaining "North Dakota" was dropped from the list arbitrarily by Kelley so that it could not be voted on alongside the other name choices. "All of American society will benefit from what we have already done, which is to call attention to negative stereotyping of Indians," said Walter Harrison, chair of the NCAA Executive Committee. The university did make one major change to Engelstad Arena, replacing Home of the Fighting Sioux on the outside of the building with Home of North Dakota Hockey. But the statue of the Sioux chief Sitting Bull on horseback is still out front. 3, the building was supposed to stay self-sufficient.". She has also covered nine Olympics, three World Cups and written extensively about tennis, auto racing and college sports since joining The Post in 1998. In 1999, a bill was introduced in the North Dakota House of Representatives to eliminate the nickname, but the bill died in committee.

[13], The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education announced on April 8, 2010, that the Fighting Sioux nickname would be retired after the 20102011 athletic season. Housing also is sparse: a smattering of one-story homes with weather-beaten siding and scruffy patches of weeds out front.