"Please be informed that the letter dated February 2, 2000 from Joseph A. Walker is false and misleading.

The Oceti Sakowin is an organization established for the sole purpose of Treaty Rights. It is our objective to educate, gather, research and recognize the Treaty Rights of the Great Sioux Nation, but does not endorse the name of your school.

Our membership is well aware of the word "Sioux", a word used by a select few in a degrading and racial manner. Because of this, our membership concurs that our organization will not support the name and the use allows our children and future generations to experience the current racial antagonism.

Please contact us to rectify this letter as it sets a detrimental position for all our Native American students at UND. We would like to schedule a meeting with you to discuss the contents of this letter. We would like also to visit your campus to discuss future implications that the name portrays...

Signed,

Joe Sees The Elk, V. Chairman

OcetiSakowin ELders of Standing Rock

This article is for anyone that is saying that the elders have endorsed the Fighting Sioux name. Thanks.

-- Merry Ketterling, secretary, Indian Studies, UND (posted 3/6, 4:45 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)

previous response

next response

STEP 1: Your contact information (required)

Your name: Your title & institution: Your phone: Your e-mail address:

STEP 2: Your comments

STEP 3: Submit!

Be sure to include your name and affiliation. Legitimate requests for anonymity will be honored.

The Chronicle maintains Colloquy as an open forum where readers can comment on issues. Submissions may be condensed or edited for clarity, but editing is kept to a minimum. We correct errors in spelling, punctuation, etc. In addition, we remove statements that have the potential to be libelous or to slander someone. In cases in which people make claims that could be libelous, we will remove the names of institutions and departments. But in those cases, we will not alter the ideas contained in the submissions.

Please read our privacy policy or our Colloquy help page if you have questions.

Check this box only if you would like this submission to be considered for publication as a letter to the editor in the printed Chronicle.