Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe Announces Lawsuit Against NCAA Alleging Civil Rights Violations And Copyright Infringement

Via Moonbattery
Sock it to them.
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Speaking at the tribal headquarters of the Spirit Lake Sioux Nation, attorney Reed Soderstrom announced a lawsuit against the NCAA alleging copyright infringement and civil rights violations. The Sioux tribe supports the University of North Dakota’s “Fighting Sioux” nickname and logo, but the NCAA has deemed them to be “hostile and abusive.”

“Today, the Spirit Lake Tribe of Indians, by and through its Committee of Understanding and Respect, and Archie Fool Bear, individually, and as Representative of more than 1004 Petitioners of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, filed a lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association in direct response to their attempt to take away and prevent the North Dakota Sioux Indians from giving their name forever to the University of North Dakota,” said Soderstrom in prepared remarks.

Soderstrom alleges that the NCAA has violated “the religious and first amendment rights of the Dakota Sioux tribes.” He also alleged a double standard in the application of the NCAA’s policy against the use of Native American names and imagery.

“Though the NCAA has decided ‘Fighting Sioux’ is derogatory, the NCAA supports the University of Illinois’ use of the name ‘Fighting Illini,’ and the use by Florida State University of the name ‘Seminoles’ along with the Seminole mascot – someone dressed in Native American attire who rides into the FSU stadium on a horse and throws a flaming spear before every home football game,” said Soderstrom. “The NCAA claims these are not derogatory depictions because the Illini people and the Seminole people approve of the use of the name and mascot. Inexplicably, the NCAA fails to accept the tribal vote and the sacred religious ceremony as endorsements of the name ‘Fighting Sioux’ by the North Dakota Sioux Nation.”

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2 comments:

  1. To much pain / not NEARLY enough sleep -- I read 3/4 of the article before figuring out that it was the athletics-bunch and not the race-baiting bunch that was at odds with the school.

    I kept wondering "why do the race-baiters care about the whitest state in The Union giving an Indian name to their football team?!?"

    DeeDeeDee! ;oP

    That said, I left the following comment:

    "Maybe they should change it to "Fighting SUE"?!

    Better yet, we could all put on our big-girl panties and stop bickering over stupid crap.

    There's nothing "Offensive" about it!

    If we change the name of a street to "MLK Boulevard" -- in addition to guaranteeing increased violence and lots of "freelance pharmacists" setting up shop -- it's commonly considered "In Honor Of..." Similar initiatives are commonly implemented to "honor" some local notable person(s) or organization(s).

    Likewise this.

    The Sioux are part of the history of the State - and the University is honoring this fact by naming their sports team.

    Personally, I figure the only ones with a "say" in the matter are students and benefactors - all others should be offered a nice cup of STFU.
    "

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Maybe they should change it to "Fighting SUE"?!

    :)

    ReplyDelete