Moniker gets mixed reactions on reservations
Views at Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation mimic those of UND

By Howie Padilla
Dakota Student Staff Writer

BELCOURT, N.D. -- Driving through town, you don't notice any signs of opposition to UND's use of the Fighting Sioux moniker. Inside the CONOCO convenience store can be found a sign calling for the release of Leonard Peltier, a man who some view as a political prisoner. But nowhere is there a sign demanding the University of North Dakota change the Fighting Sioux name.

But that's not to say the issue is unheard of. That's not to say that all of the Chippewa tribal members who live here on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation are ignorant to the issue.

"I'm against the use of any humans as mascots," said Cherona Jerome. The 18-year-old plans to attend UND next fall to major in Indian Studies. "It doesn't matter if it's Irish, Native American, Mexican ... it's wrong."

Terry Jerome, Cherona's father and a licensed addictions counselor at the high school in town, is visibly proud of his daughter for her knowledge of Native American traditions. It's something he said she has been involved in since she was as young as five years old.

They were sitting in the living room of their home, surrounded by artists' renditions of Native Americans, Ojibwe arrows, a war club given to them as a gift and a prayer stick which hangs on one wall.

And as the discussion of whether UND should discontinue using the Fighting Sioux name goes on, the lack of uniformity on the issue becomes evident. In many ways it mimics the lack of uniformity on the campus of UND.

"Me, personally. I don't see anything wrong with the name," Terry said. "It's the same as our school calling themselves the Belcourt Braves."

"No it's not, Dad," Cherona interrupted. "(Native Americans) earn the name Brave. It's like in the military, where you earn the rank of general."

The interaction is just a small example of the lack of uniform opinions on the reservation, according to Terry.

"You're going to get all different types of opinions," he said. "Even in this house. If you ask me, if you ask my daughter and if you ask my wife the same thing, you're going to get three different answers."

A few miles away, Francis "Fatti" Davis, a deacon with the catholic church takes a few moments from remodeling his kitchen to contemplate the controversy. The puzzled look on his face tells much about the extent of his interest in the issue.

"I think you're talking to the wrong guy," he said. "I haven't paid any attention at all. It's not like we sit around the kitchen table discussing the Fighting Sioux name.

"It just doesn't affect me."

An exhausting battle

Cherona Jerome, who led a protest at her high school against allowing a mascot for the Braves dress in traditional gear at a regional basketball tournament game, said she too knows the issue isn't of utmost importance to everyone and sees a perceived lack of support for the name change as a sign of fatigue.

"It's not a big issue to everyone," she said. "But it's a big issue to people that know the culture.

"People are frustrated," she continued. "For hundreds of years people have mocked Native Americans by using them as mascots, mocking them in theater and in film. There will always be a fight against the use of the name."

Cherona, who next year will represent the third generation of her family to attend UND „ Terry graduated from the school in 1985 and his mother also attended the school „ said she sees something of a revival in the desire to learn of the Native American ways. She said her friends will often ask to accompany her to ceremonies and express interest in her heritage.

Terry said if, indeed, a revival is taking place, if protests will bring about change, it will be protests led by young people.

"It's just not my way," he said of the protests. "I will pray for them and give whatever I can offer, but it will be up to the young people.

"They will lead us," he said.

Still, Terry said he sees more glaring signs of racism that need to be addressed.

"I'm more offended by people saying, 'All Indians are drunks.' Or 'The only good Indian is a dead Indian.'," he said. Back at the Davis household, the question seems to be whether there is a need for a change.

"If it's been that way for so many years, why change it now?" asked Davis. He goes through other name possibilities aloud, as if looking for something to offend him. "Fighting Ojibwe ... Fighting Chippewa ... Would 'Fighting' be degrading to me? Personally, I'm not offended."

"It's a good thing," adds his wife Mary Lou. "I feel like they did it to honor us. What is offensive are names like the Redskins or Japs ... something with a slang to it."

But nonetheless, Terry Jerome and Fatti Davis agree. While the name change may not be as much of a controversial issue to the Chippewa or on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, a campaign spearheaded by Sioux tribes „ called their "brothers" -- would be deserving of support.

"If my brothers asked for my support, I would give it," Terry said. "It would have to be led by them, though."