Posted on November 29, 2007 - Filed Under Indian Mascots |
Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Ron His Horse for standing firm in his tribe’s opposition to the University of North Dakota’s “Fighting Sioux” mascot. At a recent press conference held on UND’s campus, Chairman His Horse Is Thunder reaffirmed his tribe’s opposition to the mascot by stating, “It’s part of who we were, not who we are.” He further stated of the mascot that “it must be changed.” In support of his position, He said that he runs in to harmful and ignorant stereotypes of Indians all the time, and that the UND mascot “perpetuates that stereotypical image, … and doesn’t give them the encompassing image of who we are.” Chairman His Horse Is Thunder rightly stated that tribal members come to the University “to expand our horizons… to become part of the modern world.” Tribal members should not be remembered most for wearing “buckskins and headdresses” and “for fighting the cavalry.” He also pointed out that past support by Standing Rock tribal leaders were voided by broken promises from UND officials about how the mascot would be used. Chairman His Horse Is Thunder characterized recent overtures by UND officials to gain tribal support of the mascot, such as a million dollar scholarship fund directed at Sioux students, and a veterans memorial plaque at the hockey arena, as attempts “to buy” Standing Rock support. We honor Chairman Ron His Horse Is Thunder for his continued principled opposition to the University of North Dakota’s “Fighting Sioux” mascot.
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