Names are an important key to what a society values. Anthropologists recognize naming as ‘one of the chief methods for imposing order on perception.’ David S. Slawson
Because of requirements placed on the University of North Dakota by the NCAA and Summit League, the North Dakota Board of Higher Education voted 8-0 to require the University of North Dakota to retire its athletic nickname “Fighting Sioux” by August 1 unless two North Dakota tribes vote to allow the name to be used. The Spirit Lake Sioux tribe has voted to give them permission to continue to use the name. The Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe opposes the continued use and will not schedule an election.
I have a problem with this decision:
1. The NCAA and Summit League are imposing their views on the University of North Dakota in an arrogant attempt to be “politically correct.” They show no such contempt for universities that have a nickname that references Vikings, Irish, or other nicknames with historical ties to the locality or historical culture of the people. They single out a team honoring Native Americans because THEY believe it is offensive. Frankly, I don’t care about the opinion of anyone on this issue who has not spent some time on the reservation talking to average Native Americans.
2. To insure the NCAA and Summit League get their way, they placed a requirement that the University of North Dakota had no realistic chance to meet. Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Ron His Horse is Thunder has been a long-time opponent of the use of this nickname. However, he obviously doesn’t trust his tribal members to make this decision as he will not allow it to go to a vote.
3. I believe this “politically correct” position is grounded in a false support of Native Americans. Rather than doing something meaningful on behalf of Native Americans like funding scholarships or encouraging social work programs on the nation’s reservations, they make an empty symbolic act that actually demeans Native Americans (see #1 and #4).
4. Naming is an honor in both Native and European cultures. It shows respect and it represents a desire that one so named will exemplify the best traits for the one they are named. I was named for my father and he didn’t do so in a sign of disrespect. In fact, I know of nobody who names someone/something they love to denigrate but uplift.
I grew up in central South Dakota and have spent a great deal of time on our state’s reservation and have many Native American friends. The reality is that I’m more formed by the Native American culture than I am by the Irish/German/Danish cultures of my ancestry. While people in Sioux Falls might not recognize it, I believe even here in Sioux Falls there is greater formation of our culture by our Native American neighbors than any of our European ancestors (yes, more than the Germans, Norwegians and Irish). But in the rest of our state the influence of the Native American culture is palpable and impossible to ignore.
I am proud I live in a state named for our Native American neighbors. I’m proud when I played “Cowboys and Indians” being an Indian was the desired “side” among my friends. In a chest of mementos from my youth, I’m glad it includes my two feather headdress I used to wear. Most importantly, I value my experiences, relationships, and friendships with Native Americans.
Fellow South Dakotans (not fellow South Germans/Norwegians), we need to stand up for our heritage. The Native American culture is a significant part of who we are. Like our Native American neighbors, the names we give are a sign of honor and a way we give respect to who we are. If we succumb to pressure from outsiders to deny who we are, we denigrate those we should be honoring. Where will it stop? Will we let them change the name of our state? Will we let them change the names of our creeks, towns, and streets that have Native American roots?
Don’t get me wrong. If I believed grass roots Native Americans really desired a scrubbing of all Native names, I’d be sad they want to exclude non-Indians from acknowledging their influence on me and my state. But I would honor it. But I don’t believe it.
None of my Native American friends take offense by recognition given their culture throughout our state. In fact, it is my experience they take more offense that certain areas of our state aren’t recognized by their Indian names (Pierre instead of Mahto, Black Hills instead of Paha Sapa). They take special offense to the James River named because it was an area that many had mixed blood with the French traders. Somehow James has roots to represent “half breed” (I think their reaction to “James River” is comparable to their reaction to “Redskins” in that its roots are insulting). I wish I could remember what the father of my childhood Indian friend said was the name they used for the James River. The overwhelming vote by the Spirit Lake Tribe affirms my belief that most of our Native American neighbors do not want a scrubbing of their culture from being recognized by their non-Indian neighbors. Instead, they take pride in this acknowledgement.
Final comment. As a child, I was a Gettysburg Battler. As a teen, I was a Pierre Governor. In college, I was a Augustana Viking and GW Colonial. I’m now an O’Gorman Knight fan surrounded by the Washington Warriors, Lincoln Patriots, and Roosevelt Rough Riders. These are all much better names representing a call to greatness in the manner of their namesakes. Much better than a call to be mangy canine or hopping meandering rodent. SDSU and USD should take this opportunity to find a more up-lifting nickname. How about the SDSU Archers and USD Villagers? The politically correct won’t know that the Santee Sioux (lived near Brookings) were known for their archery and that the Yankton Sioux (lived near Vermillion) were less nomadic and established more permanent villages. I don’t care if they think it makes us look like hicks. We’d know we are acknowledging a great, noble and significant people who are part of our collective heritage.
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Comments
This stupid, petty stuff makes me mad. I left a few words out. I asked an Indian friend of mine if this was insulting to him. He said we have the Eagle Butte Braves. I think it is an honor not a put down. FU to the clowns who make more of this than should be!
Having grown up on the edge of the rez, I find few that feel as Ron does. I think this is more a victory for Ron and a few others that are willing to take any victory however costly and relevant to the ultimate battle of bringing their people to physical, mental and economic health. I am of the belief that words have power to build or destroy, be it spiritual or otherwise. Hopefully Ron will seek advice of his elders who carry a wisdom far beyond mine or his, if an attorney can ask for advice that is. 
It would be kinda cool, I guess, if the Pine Ridge kids decided to name their boys’ intramural teams the “Oles” and the “Svens” and the girls’ the “Lenas” and the “Olgas.”
Pretty fun, by golly.
And then the team that plays out could maybe just be “Da Hozers.”
Hey, not everyone can pick noble names for their teams. How about them “Newell Irrigators” who when they turn into a stiff breeze get it all over themselves. Or the Sturgis Scoopers who are named after the guys on KP at the fort who had to clean up after the horses who had did it in the street. If this was representative of most nicknames, I could see why “Warriors,” “Braves,” or “Fighting Sioux might be considered an insult. But, most are Battler, Governor, Patriot, Knight, and my favorite is the Mt. Marty Lancers.
We were the Cowboy’s and all my American Indian buddies wanted to be cowboys as well. Oh man Bill, you’re not even touching the tip with those. You need to look into the Norsk dairy country (I love them). It is Udder delight. How about Fighting Udder’s, Udder Patriots, Udder Twins. Heck we could even find some of that in DC, Udder Incompetent’s. If Lead was the Miners, what was Deadwood?
It was great growing up in the safest school in the state. We were the Eureka Trojans. Now co-oping in sports with Bowdle we are the Patriots. Went from bullet interference to the actual missle. Names mean things and history used to be extrapolated into names of buildings, towns, schools, and to a lesser degree people, but all the rules have changed today and we must make sure everyone and everything we do is boringly politically correct. Yuck!
A few years back there was a baseball team from Holabird here is central SD that called itself the Holabird Hollyhocks. Local kids really thought it was cool and they printed up a bunch of jerseys.
Very well written. Being of Irish heritage, I still get mad at the drunken stupidity of Notre Dame fans that attempt to celebrate only one aspect of the Irish culture and not recognize the fighting spirit of the Irish people who battled for their independance or who against the odds migrated to this country as the lowest of cultures only to rise up and help build an empire here. The tribal chairman in ND should be held out as a traitor. All he does is trade his people’s dignity and their rights as sovereigns for his own personal gain. Let the people decide!
Troy,
You write: “While people in Sioux Falls might not recognize it, I believe even here in Sioux Falls there is greater formation of our culture by our Native American neighbors than any of our European ancestors (yes, more than the Germans, Norwegians and Irish). But in the rest of our state the influence of the Native American culture is palpable and impossible to ignore.”
I agree that Native culture, in some form, is impossible to ignore in most of the state. But other than relatively superficial displays of culture (place names, etc), I just don’t see how deeper forms of Native culture (language, music, food, religion, art) in its historic or current form, informs the daily lives of many non-Native American South Dakotans. To a large extent, I wish it would to a greater degree.
Well-written, well-thought-out post, as usual.
Thanks,
JM
Bah. Just call all the teams like the Browns, Greens, Yellows, etc. And numbers. The weak minded can’t take offense to that.
Perhaps UND can call their team “Red ND Code 39-08″. That’s not offensive, nosirree
isn’t there something about the word “sioux” that they say is offensive? i hate political correctness as much as the next guy, but i’d like to learn more about their argument.
anyone?
“Sioux,” I’ve heard, can be translated as “enemy,” or maybe even “snake.” There’s another argument that it just means “speak foreign language.” But then I’m not a native speaker.
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/sioux.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux
my guess is if no schools had ever named their teams after Native American tribes, then the PC crowd would have cried racism because nobody would name themselves the Fighting Sioux or Seminoles.
Here’s an idea:
Maybe we should just shut the hell up and let the North Dakotans decide what to do, if anything at all, about it. They don’t have to belong to the NCAA or the Summit League if they don’t want to.
I would not relish the NoDak’s opinions on such matters south of the border. I frankly don’t much care what they think, we can resolve our own problems, thank you very much. And what are these opinions adding to the debate? Not a hell of a lot.
They probably feel the same way. Let them figure it out themselves. They are the ones with skin in the game.
It is my understanding that the name the “Sioux” call themselves (Lakota, Dakota, Nakota) means “friend.”
They were called “Sioux” by others dating back to a times long before the Lakota came to the Great Plains.
The meaning of the word “Sioux” is obscure, but yes, some say it refers to a small rattlesnake in the Ottowa language. This confusion is said to be why the tribes prefer to refer to themselves as “friend” in a language they understand.
That seems smart to me.
well come on, bf. cory tells me one thing, and you tell me it might be another. what the heck? how’s a dumb white guy like me supposed to figure anything out?
i will admit i get a bit sheepish about my support for my washington redskins. love the team; up in the air about the name.
lr, that’s because the word “Sioux” probably isn’t even a real word, but rather the result of a French guy trying to say a Native American word. Seems like our problem is an old one. But just for fun, do you what the word “Anglo” means? Well, neither do I, homeboy.
This is stupid and potentially financially damaging to UND. First, how anyone could take offense to “the fighting Sioux” is beyond me. The name is not derogatory in any sense and in fact, based upon the race’s current social and economic status, I’d think they would take it as a compliment. UND is not the “Fighting Redskins” or anything that can be considered offensive. The tribal leader opposing this is full of crap. How about tending to your dwindling, incredibly poor, drug and alcohol infested tribe instead of wasting time with this moronic stance?
Second, the gift of tens of millions of dollars (60-80?) from the donor was contingent upon several things a) The name “Fighting Sioux” b) the firing of the AD and c) the firing of the (I believe) football coach. If UND renigs on this, I foresee a lawsuit from the donor requesting the return of the funds.
Third, I’m Irish. I’m suing ND. The “Fighting Irish”? How dare they. I loved the 60’s TV show “flipper” so I’m suing the Miami Dolphins. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Justin: Spend a day with a west river rancher and then a Native American. You will be shocked at the similarity in outlook, attitude, laid-back demeanor, sense of stewarship of nature, etc. Go into a ranchers house and you’ll be shocked at the art and general decoration of their home that represents Native American themes. Or more similar is just the simplicity of little decoration. Both are more likely than not to spend some of the time with you laying in the shade from a tree, rock or car on the ground as they are anywhere else. Both will probably be chewing on a piece of grass. And neither will feel a bit uncomfortable if nobody says anything for 30 minutes just watching the wind blow. I believe that the rancher is more formed by Indian culture than anything.
BK: First, it is offensive to the do-gooders ouside our borders to say that Fighting Sioux is offensive to them. All of us in the Dakotas have been impacted by the Sioux and we should be acknowledge it however WE choose and the do-gooders should be just mind their own business.
Lex/Bill:
Here is what I’ve always heard on the genesis of the name Sioux. I could be wrong on some parts (and don’t know what).
Sioux is a name given to the group of Yankton, Santee, and other independent tribes of similar language, culture and etc. from the outside (probably French). The analogy I heard is similar to how we came to known as “Americans”. We thought of ourselves as Virginians, Carolinians, Yankees, etc. We didn’t think of ourselves as part of a greater group. However, others were first to give us a greater name to identify us as a larger group. Same with the Germans who though of themselves as Bohemians/Bavarians, etc. Same with what we now call the Sioux. They saw themslves as part of a smaller group.
The common myth the name “Sioux” comes from a Sioux word that means “snake” is not taken seriously. The name was used before there was much direct interraction between the French and the Sioux. Imagine this: French furtrader says to Indian: “What do you call that slimy crawly thing that bites and kills?” Indian says “Sioux”. Fur trader says “That is what I’ll call you guys.” Indian says “OK, Sounds good.” Sounds stupid and unlikely doesn’t it.
The two more likely roots to the word is as follows:
1) Sioux is close to the word “enemy” or “snake” by the tribes that bordered the Great Lakes. The French traders asked them “what do you call those Indians farther west?” and they said “enemy” in their language because the Sioux’s nomadic culture didn’t make them popular with their non-nomadic neighbors (esp. those round the south side of the Great Lakes). The French adopted it without understanding what it meant. Sioux accepted it because they didn’t know where it came from.
2) There is a word in French that sounds like Sioux and means “firey/spicy” or something like that. Because the French traded with and had frienship with many tribes all across the norhtern part of the now US all the way to Vermont, they had encountered and understood that each tribe was different culturally. And, as was discovered during the period of 1820-1890, the description of the Sioux as “firey” would be pretty accurate.
In the end, it is all speculation. Nobody knows and probably never will. However, the combined tribal entity of all the tribes (Yankton, Santee, & Teton) calls itself the “United Sioux Tribes” so I don’t think they think it an insulting term and don’t really care about the genesis. Just like we don’t care that it was Europeans who first started calling us Americans. Or the Germans were first called Germans by I think the Romans.
Do away with intercollegiate sports. They serve no educational purpose and waste a lot of time.
If not, shirts and skins works and with girls sports would bring out all the old lecherous beer-drinking frat rats.
Wiken: “Do away with intercollegiate sports. They serve no educational purpose and waste a lot of time.”
Wiken, boy, I bet you’re a lot of fun. Cross word puzzles, reading books on philosophy and working on the lawn (or more likely watching someone work on your lawn). My heart just skipped three beats. What a drag life would be without college football, basketball, soccer, etc.
Sports creates leaders, helps increase brain activity which results in better grades thus more opportunities. Sports helps the athlete mature, promotes social skills and instills a sense of team work. Oh, and it’s good for your health too.
In sum, that is was one of the most moronic statements I have EVER read. Congratulations. Here’s an electonic $10 bill so you can go buy yourself a dunce cap.
Troy, I wonder if you appreciate the irony of your position here.
Superficial as my observation may be, there is perhaps a relevant takeaway:
Recall that “the fighting Sioux” basically lost, and ND could thus be jinxing the team, especially to the degree that there is any serious spititual mojo going on around this.
On the other hand, if Ron His Horse is Thunder prevails, he wins (a small victory for his people, perhaps but a victory nonetheless.)
The fighting Sioux indeed.
Interesting situation.