It’s disappointing that my alma mater, named also after Sitting Bull’s Nation, the Dakota, is letting the 125th anniversary of his death pass in silence, deathly and deadly silence. Traumatic silence. The silence of someone gunned down by law enforcement while allegedly resisting arrest, his alleged crimes being planning to leave the reservation, and planning to engage in spiritual practice. There are so many possible conference topics from police violence, to the legacy of settler colonialism and post-colonial understandings, to what we can learn now from this prominent Dakotan’s life and words. UND, with it’s Indian studies program with no Indians, raises to Vine Deloria levels of irony. Let’s remember Sitting Bull.

Deborah Gaudet

Alumnus