Bill signed to repeal Sioux nickname law

The 81 year-old Fighting Sioux nickname has the final OK to be retired. Today the house gave final approval and the governor signed the bill to repeal a law that requires UND to keep the name and Indian head logo. The vote was 63-31.

The most emotional floor speech came from Jim Schmidt of Huff, who said he was speaking for the people of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Rep. Jim Schmidt – (R) Huff: "I will not vote to take away a gift that represents a culture that not one of us in the state board of higher education, not one of the university presidents and not one of us that sits in here -- 94 people are a member. I will not do that, I am voting no. "

Despite the vote, some lawmakers were adamant that this fight is far from over.

Representative Al Carlson – (R) Fargo: “The Sioux nickname is gone but in my opinion the fight's not over.”

Representative Mick Schatz – (R) New England: “I don't believe that all the stones have been turned over. The other stone of course is a referendum and there is a group out that that is considering that - actually a couple groups.”

The bill also says UND can not have a new nickname or logo until January 2015.

Tags: north dakota legislature, news, sioux, nickname, updates