(Vermillion, SD) — Two South Dakota Tribes are showing their support to USD staff members who’ve been told to remove their tribal affiliations and pronouns from their email signatures. According to the Argus Leader, Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Scott Herman and Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Chairman Clyde Estes sent letters to the university’s board of regents. Herman wants an exception to the policy for John Little — USD’s director of Native recruitment and alumni engagement — because he is a member of a federally recognized tribe, Standing Rock Dakota. Estes said in his letter the board of regents’ policy goes against diversity, equity and inclusion. Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, director of Native Student Services, is Oglala na Sicangu Lakota. She was also told to remove her tribal affiliation from her email signature.
