Letter: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe did not give up 'Sioux' name

Wednesday, February 23, 2011  

"I am a Lakota elder raised at Standing Rock but enrolled on the Cheyenne River Reservation. I can remember the 1969 incident. I remember when Satch Standing Crow and Ed Loone along with others from Standing Rock traveled to UND to give the president a name and let the university use the Sioux name (adding the word “Fighting” later on).

I am sure the delegation did this because they thought it would pave the way for American Indian students to enter UND. But as neither Satch or Ed were part of the tribal council at that time, what right did they have to perform the ceremony and give away the Sioux name?

Also, I am sure they did not know UND would use the name in a way that encouraged other teams to make fun of it.

I ask people who want to honor us to consider that you don’t honor anyone unless they say yes, and I say no."

Get the Story:
Merry Claymore Ketterling, Larimore: Ceremony didn’t involve tribal council (The Grand Forks Herald 2/23)

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