The controversy over the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo reared its ugly head, of all places, at one of the reservations K-12 schools. An individual who said he is a pro logo supporter requested to use the school's bus to transport tribal members to the Ralph Engelstad arena. What happened when the two school boards met to discuss his request was a good example how our four Dakota values apply to a modern day situation:
1. Honesty - or lack of
• The individual said his request was not to support the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. However, a board member produced a flyer that stated the activity was to show support for the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.
• The individual said he was a pro logo supporter, but later admitted he didn't really care about the logo. He just wanted to do something for the students.
• He tried to circumvent the school's policy on who can use the bus. Other than the school, the school's policy allows for the elderly, the veterans, and the college to use the bus. He said he represented these groups, yet he did not have a letter from any group authorizing him to speak on their behalf.
2. Courage
• Three board members refused to be intimidated by pro logo supporters and denied the request.
• Three board members saw the request for what it was (an attempt to drag the school and its students into a political controversy), and spoke up against it.
3. Perseverance
• When the individual made a subtle threat, that "four of the council are in favor of the logo," board members opposed to him using the bus stood firm in their opposition against him using the bus.
4. Generosity
• When the meeting was over, two of the board members who opposed the request went around and shook hands with those board members who were for it, while the individual who made the request flung one last insult as he scurried out the door.
The most troubling aspect of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo is the total disregard of the Dakota value of honesty by some pro logo supporters. They ignore the truth. They are willing to misrepresent the truth; and most troubling of all ..., they know they are not truthful, yet they do it anyway.
An individual who was at the meeting said it best. Following is a paraphrased statement of this individual's analysis of the meeting and the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo in general. Keep in mind this individual supports the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, which makes the statement much more powerful:
What bothers me the most about this issue is "they" know full well that they are being patronized; yet, they choose to move forward and call it, "support of the name and logo". They attempt to cloak it as some effort or attempt to do something for kids in the form of, what he termed, free tickets and scholarships. Where did this idea of a flag displaying ceremony come from anyway? The article in the GF Herald does not elaborate on why the Ralph has decided to display the flags with an elaborate ceremony of some sort. This is not a something for nothing venture here. Since when has UND reached out to our reservations in the form of sports tickets?
No doubt, they expect to gain something from this. They also fail to see how the issue is dividing people from and within respective tribes. The old "divide and conquer" mentality is as active today as it was 175 years ago. Give the Indian gifts and freebies, and he will eat out of your hand, do anything, and sign anything.
No question this is a patronization process and some people are blinded by the idea of something FREE. They've bought right into it. This isn't even politics anymore, it is just a plain old "Take advantage of the Indian"; we know his weakness for freebees and the spotlight. Gifts and freebies are not always opportunities!
What happened to traditional pride and honor and the ability to stand up for one another for the sake of just simply being Indian. I have to credit the white man for doing a good job of showing Indians "the light" only when it is for his eyes rather than those of the Indian. "Save the man, kill the Indian" is as prevalent as it has ever been.
It is amazing how people can disguise their perception of the truth. I may have been divided at times, but I'll be damned if I will be conquered.
I couldn't have said it better.
