Members of the Committee,
I have had time to fully digest and reflect on the conversation we had during our conference call on February 26, 2009 and the media reports of that conference afterwards. I have arrived at the conclusion that our discussions or intentions are bordering on unethical and/or immoral for the following reasons:
1. We are blatantly ignoring the wishes of The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council and Spirit Lake Dakota Nation Tribal Council who have long refused to meet with any delegation to discuss the Fighting Sioux Nickname and logo. They are both sovereign nations and it is time we respected their wishes. Any more attempts to contact them will be extremely disrespectful to those tribal governments and the tribal membership. It could be construed as harassing, bullying, and persecuting, to say the least.
2. The make up of our committee has cast a cloud over its purpose that questions the integrity of the process. The majority of the committee's members are strong pro logo supporters, including, with the exception of myself, tribal members who favor keeping the name. The other (neutral?) parties represent the highest positions in the state (Governor's Office and Senators' office). It sends the impression that we will get what we want regardless even if it means strong-arming the tribes from both within and outside the committee.
3. We are missing representation from a key group, the Indian students who are currently attending UND. There should be at least three Indian students on this committee (Having one student who is in support of the name and logo on the committee does not alleviate this concern.)
4. What we are doing is damaging race relationships between Indians and the citizens of North Dakota. All you have to do is click on the "Comments" section under a new story on the Fighting Sioux Logo and you will see some of the most vile, disgusting, racist statements toward Native Americans. I have a lot of non-Indian friends and acquaintances. When this issue does come up with my non-Indian friends, it puts a strain on our friendships. When it comes up with my many non-Indian acquaintances, the discussions often deteriorate into insults and name-calling.
5. We know members of the committee are involved in what I view as subversive, behind the scenes, efforts to influence Spirit Lake and Standing Rock tribes, to pressure the tribal councils into holding a referendum on the issues (Letter to Tom Iron from Jody Hodgeson, General Manager Ralph Engelstad Area, dated January 20, 2009). This action may very well involve the paying and the receiving of funds and should be halted immediately if we precede any further.
6. Our efforts will lead others to believe we do not care or feel any compassion for the tribal members of these two tribes. Already there has been considerable animosity generated between friends, relatives, acquaintances, and colleagues on these reservations because of outside parties attempting to influence tribal members on this issue. What we are attempting to do will add fuel to this fire, surely instigating more internal strife between the tribal memberships of these two tribes.
I know I will be criticized for my position and writing this letter - so be it. Some may say, "If you don't like what the committee is doing why don't you resign from it"? First of all, it is not my nature to resign simply because someone may want me to. Second, Chancellor Goetz appointed me, he can un-appoint me if he so desires. Otherwise, I do not have any plans to resign from the committee.
In closing, as a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation, as a proud alumni of UND, as a proud citizen of North Dakota and the 21st Century, I recommend we immediately cease and desist any and all efforts to influence the tribal councils and the tribal membership on any decision regarding the Fighting Sioux logo. It is the ethical and moral thing to do.
I have had time to fully digest and reflect on the conversation we had during our conference call on February 26, 2009 and the media reports of that conference afterwards. I have arrived at the conclusion that our discussions or intentions are bordering on unethical and/or immoral for the following reasons:
1. We are blatantly ignoring the wishes of The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council and Spirit Lake Dakota Nation Tribal Council who have long refused to meet with any delegation to discuss the Fighting Sioux Nickname and logo. They are both sovereign nations and it is time we respected their wishes. Any more attempts to contact them will be extremely disrespectful to those tribal governments and the tribal membership. It could be construed as harassing, bullying, and persecuting, to say the least.
2. The make up of our committee has cast a cloud over its purpose that questions the integrity of the process. The majority of the committee's members are strong pro logo supporters, including, with the exception of myself, tribal members who favor keeping the name. The other (neutral?) parties represent the highest positions in the state (Governor's Office and Senators' office). It sends the impression that we will get what we want regardless even if it means strong-arming the tribes from both within and outside the committee.
3. We are missing representation from a key group, the Indian students who are currently attending UND. There should be at least three Indian students on this committee (Having one student who is in support of the name and logo on the committee does not alleviate this concern.)
4. What we are doing is damaging race relationships between Indians and the citizens of North Dakota. All you have to do is click on the "Comments" section under a new story on the Fighting Sioux Logo and you will see some of the most vile, disgusting, racist statements toward Native Americans. I have a lot of non-Indian friends and acquaintances. When this issue does come up with my non-Indian friends, it puts a strain on our friendships. When it comes up with my many non-Indian acquaintances, the discussions often deteriorate into insults and name-calling.
5. We know members of the committee are involved in what I view as subversive, behind the scenes, efforts to influence Spirit Lake and Standing Rock tribes, to pressure the tribal councils into holding a referendum on the issues (Letter to Tom Iron from Jody Hodgeson, General Manager Ralph Engelstad Area, dated January 20, 2009). This action may very well involve the paying and the receiving of funds and should be halted immediately if we precede any further.
6. Our efforts will lead others to believe we do not care or feel any compassion for the tribal members of these two tribes. Already there has been considerable animosity generated between friends, relatives, acquaintances, and colleagues on these reservations because of outside parties attempting to influence tribal members on this issue. What we are attempting to do will add fuel to this fire, surely instigating more internal strife between the tribal memberships of these two tribes.
I know I will be criticized for my position and writing this letter - so be it. Some may say, "If you don't like what the committee is doing why don't you resign from it"? First of all, it is not my nature to resign simply because someone may want me to. Second, Chancellor Goetz appointed me, he can un-appoint me if he so desires. Otherwise, I do not have any plans to resign from the committee.
In closing, as a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation, as a proud alumni of UND, as a proud citizen of North Dakota and the 21st Century, I recommend we immediately cease and desist any and all efforts to influence the tribal councils and the tribal membership on any decision regarding the Fighting Sioux logo. It is the ethical and moral thing to do.
