Spirit Lake Tribe Files Appeal In Lawsuit Against The NCAA
The Spirit Lake Sioux tribe, which supports the the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux logo and nickname, has filed an appeal in their federal lawsuit against the NCAA.
See the filing below.
Federal judge Ralph Erickson dismissed the tribe’s lawsuit earlier this year, agreeing with the NCAA that the tribe didn’t have standing to bring the lawsuit. But the tribe continues to argue that they were included in a lawsuit settlement between the State of North Dakota and the NCAA that they were never a party to.
That settlement required the name issue to be settled by the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes, which were never represented in the case.
The NCAA has a pretty stellar track record in winning challenges to its authority, but these fighting Sioux aren’t giving up easily. And it is still an absurd spectacle to watch as the NCAA attempts to ban as hostile an Indian logo/nickname that one Sioux tribe supports, and another tribe cares so little about they won’t even vote on it.
