The NCAA has told all the schools with Indian Nicknames or Mascots to cut that shit out. Now, AXE is 3/4 Irish American and one Quarter First Nation (Canadian Indian) and I have to say that we should seriously wonder getting a humor transplant. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are sterotypical -- we probably should note that the true name of the university is Notre Dame du Lac, or Our Lady of the Lake University. Not unlike the gallowglass and Wild Geese, the damn French are exploiting us...or, we're subway alumni to some extent and are generally pissed at the whole mess.
The University of North Dakota is in a unique position. The Spirit Lake Sioux have sued (homonyms, anyone) for the University to keep the name "Fighting Sioux." The state is going to court to defend the suit, claiming that the title is degrading. Really? The logo is a helluva lot less silly or degrading than it's Fighting Irish leprechaun counterpart, and actually is based on Crazy Horse. Some Indian students at the university find it degrading; some think it's cool; most probably don't care.
Most of us don't care. I'm always in favor of caring, but at times like this, I wonder...maybe they should have a referendum. My college changed the logo if not the name a few years ago, and I hate the new one. Stupid, I know. I still send money.
I think that the NCAA has a lot better things to worry about. If they are interested in Indians all of a sudden, maybe they should look at graduation rates of Indian Students with lacrosse or track scholarships. Fix that. I think the state has better things to litigate. The tribe and the university should be able to resolve this.
Oh, by the way, I have to wonder what the actual consensus of the Spirit Lake Sioux is concerning this.
Having worked in Indian country and loving it, at times, one thing that doesn't happen is universality. The best you get to is a rough consensus. Oh well....
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