The Fighting Sioux is the last holdout of the 18 college mascots deemed “hostile and offensive” by the NCAA in 2005. And the past six years of legal maneuvering have exposed wide rifts between those who see the University of North Dakota’s mascot as a symbol of racism and those who see it as a symbol of nobility and honor. But the controversy is much older and far more complicated than that.
University records and newspaper archives dating back more than 80 years reveal that the Fighting Sioux mascot was riddled with ideological trappings from the beginning. Even before it replaced the Flickertail as UND’s mascot in 1930, students and university officials debated the merits of using a Native American tribe to represent the university.
As decades passed, the Fighting Sioux mascot became a placeholder of history, and those on all sides laid claim to its heritage. For many North Dakotans, it was an icon of the state’s pioneer history. For alumni, it was a shadow from the past and a link to their youth. But for many Native Americans, it was an insulting symbol of cultural annihilation.
By the 1970s, Native American groups began demanding changes at UND, including a more robust Indian Studies program and the elimination of the Fighting Sioux mascot. But the mascot survived, despite periodic harassment, discrimination and violence that resulted from the racial tension on campus.
During the past 20 years, several attempts to retire the mascot were rebuffed. University presidents on at least two occasions took steps to change the mascot but backed down after supporters of keeping the mascot rallied and powerful benefactors threatened to withhold funding.
Today, the choice is no longer in the hands of university officials. North Dakota lawmakers, too, are losing their grip on the mascot as the NCAA pushes them even deeper into a legal crevasse. As the legal battle unfolds, it appears the mascot will soon become part of UND’s history and vanish from its future.
THE BEGINNING OF ‘SOMETHING INDIAN’
In the fall of 1930, a letter to the editor published in UND’s student newspaper, the Dakota Student, noted that the mascot ought to be changed from the Flickertail to the “Sioux” or “something Indian.”
More editorials followed, many supporting the change. Others argued in favor of maintaining the Flickertail tradition.
A forceful objection to changing the mascot came from Fred Traynor, who at that time was president of the UND Alumni Association.
“It seems to me there is already too much of a notion abroad, especially in the East, that we are still Indian territory, and that there isn’t much else in this state except wigwams and we all go around with war paint on our faces and feathers in our hair,” Traynor wrote in a letter to another UND official.
The university adopted the Sioux nickname on Oct. 1, 1930. A day later, an editorial was published referring to the Sioux as the “most savage and bravest of Indians of the Northwest…[the] United States government was forced to send strong bodies of troops against them, and it was years before the braves of the Dakota territory were at last subdued.” Hence, the moniker confers such strength and fighting spirit upon the sports teams, the editorial writer suggested.
Five years later, UND ended a ban on Native American students.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
In 1969, members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe granted UND the right to use the “Fighting Sioux” nickname during a ceremony in which Sitting Bull’s grandson conferred the name “The Yankton Chief” onto then-UND President George Starcher.
In 1970, the fledgling UND Indian Association began protesting a lack of meeting space and an inadequate Indian Studies program. They also logged the first formal demand to eliminate the Fighting Sioux logo.
In February 1972, UND fraternity members created ice sculptures that caricatured Native Americans engaged in cannibalism and sexually explicit behavior, prompting members of the Indian Association to attempt dismantling the sculptures.
When members of the fraternity noticed what was happening, they dragged one of the Native American students into the frat house. The student struck blows at the fraternity members and was later arrested. He was subsequently bailed out by then-UND President Tom Clifford and charges were dropped. But the incident prompted the national Native American rights group Time Out to recommend elimination of the Fighting Sioux mascot.
TWO ATTEMPTS AND A BENEFACTOR
In October 1992, Native American students were harassed at the homecoming parade, prompting about 1,000 students to sign a petition in favor of changing the mascot.
In response to the initial petition, a new petition began to circulate in support of the nickname. And by the next year, Baker had decided to drop the matter and stick with the Fighting Sioux.
During the next few years, protests intensified against the continued use of the nickname. Native American tribes from across the nation renewed demands for an end to the mascot, and the issue caught the attention of minority groups across the nation such as the NAACP.
UND responded to the pressure by launching a campaign to “promote awareness” about minority groups. The university also offered to share royalties from licensing the Fighting Sioux name and logo with Native American groups on campus. The offer was declined.
In 1998, Las Vegas casino owner Ralph Englestad announced plans to construct a new arena for the UND hockey team. Englestad, who was a UND goalie in the 1950s, initially offered to donate $50 million for a new arena and $50 million for the university.
During the next two years, the NCAA ratcheted up the pressure on UND and other universities to retire logos representing ethnic minorities. Then-UND President Charles Kupchella established a task force to consider changing the mascot, but issues were raised about the effect such a decision would have on alumni donations.
When Kupchella signaled that he was leaning toward a new mascot, Englestad threatened to cut UND out of the deal and put the entire $100 million into the construction of the new arena.
Later, midway through construction of the arena, Englestad announced that he would stop construction and let the skeleton of the arena rot if UND changes its mascot. The North Dakota Board of Higher Education subsequently voted unanimously to continue the use of the nickname.
THE LEGAL BATTLE
In 2005, the NCAA demanded changes to 18 college mascots that depicted Native American tribes. Failure to do so would lead to penalties, such as restrictions on using the mascots and logos during post-season play and a ban on hosting post-season championships.
UND appealed unsuccessfully, then sued the NCAA. In 2007, the university settled the lawsuit and guaranteed the Fighting Sioux mascot would be retired within three years unless the Sioux tribes gave permission to use it.
A year later, UND was granted NCAA Division 1 status and invited to join the Big Sky Conference. Coinciding with UND’s entrance into NCAA Division I status, the state State Board of Higher Education directed UND to retire the nickname.
Last year, UND formed several committees to oversee the retirement of the Fighting Sioux mascot. But before the committees could finish the work – one hadn’t even begun to meet – the state Legislature passed a law requiring the university to continue using the mascot.
As it stands now, the Fighting Sioux mascot still adorns the campus as UND struggles to balance the demands of state officials and the NCAA. But even though the final page of its history has yet to be written, the 81-year-old mascot will soon be put to rest.
-Aaron Wentz is a freelance writer for the Great Plains Examiner.
[...] considering the passionate arguments both for and against the Fighting Sioux mascot and its deep-rooted history at the university. And the university risks alienating alumni and donors who want to have a say in [...]
How about a follow-up piece on the other hostile and offensive programs, and why some other American Indian mascots, like the Illini and Seminoles were allowed to remain in place. I grew up a Florida State fan, and I cannot explain those around me how, with a flaming spear in hand, Chief Osceola rides Renegade ride across the field, while a nickname alone is too much here.
The Fighting Sioux moniker will never be entirely put to rest. Not only do our political leaders understand that it’s a great wedge, and will do their best to keep it a political issue for as long as possible… Like the Colonel of Ole Miss, and chanting the “South shall rise again,” etc…. there will always be a strident right wing faction of bigots who will defiantly champion the offensiveness and do their best to keep the divisiveness alive.
Cameron: If it is simply defiant bigots, why, pray tell, do so many Sioux in North Dakota want to keep the nickname?
[...] three major tribes in North Dakota approved of its use. Please see more about the legal battles here. Under the terms of the settlement, the NCAA gave North Dakota three years to obtain permission [...]
[...] three major tribes in North Dakota approved of its use. Please see more about the legal battles here. Under the terms of the settlement, the NCAA gave North Dakota three years to obtain permission [...]
[...] three major tribes in North Dakota approved of its use. Please see more about the legal battles here. Under the terms of the settlement, the NCAA gave North Dakota three years to obtain permission [...]