Officials consider deadline extension for retiring 'Fighting Sioux'

by Dan Gunderson, Minnesota Public Radio

The North Dakota Board of Higher Education will consider extending an Oct. 1 deadline for retiring the Fighting Sioux nickname.

The Board has scheduled a special meeting on Oct. 1, one day after tribal elections on the Standing Rock reservation.

The NCAA has ruled the University Of North Dakota must retire the name unless it receives approval from both North Dakota Sioux tribes.

A majority of tribal members on The Spirit Lake Nation voted to allow the nickname.

The Standing Rock tribal council has refused to allow a vote on the issues.

North Dakota Board of Higher Education members did not return calls for comment.