The Standing Rock Sioux have a new tribal leader and the Sioux nickname may still have a fighting chance.

Wednesday's reservation vote propelled former chairman Charles Murphy back into leadership by nearly a two-to-one margin over current chairman Ron His Horse Is Thunder.

Murphy won by 1,233 votes to 695.

A popular leader, Murphy has since 1983 won six of the last eight chairman elections.

While it isn't certain that the newest Murphy administration will be able to swing a hurry-up referendum on the Fighting Sioux logo at the University of North Dakota, there is at least a new chance.

In recognition of the tribal election, the State Board of Higher Education Thursday voted to extend its deadline and give the reservation 60 days to hold a referendum.

Archie Fool Bear, former councilman and a chairman candidate during the primary, said "I predict a landslide" of support for UND's continued use of the Fighting Sioux name. "A lot of people really wanted to have a vote," Fool Bear said.

The state is up against a February deadline by the NCAA to end use of the Sioux logo and nickname, though a court settlement said it could continue if there was nickname consent from both North Dakota Sioux reservations. Spirit Lake approved its use by a wide margin earlier this year.

The Standing Rock Sioux, whose elders formally conferred the name four decades ago, have been denied a vote because the council, under His Horse Is Thunder, declined to schedule one.

Fool Bear says Murphy is committed to bringing the issue back to the council chamber and advocating for a referendum. The Tribune made several attempts to reaech Murphy, but he was not available for comment.

He'll be inaugurated Oct. 14.

State Board of Higher Education vice president Jon Backes, a Minot attorney, said the board provided the extension to give tribal democracy time to take place.

"I believe that the democratic process is a good process and I think we should listen to what they have to say," Backes said.

He said the timing is relatively tight and the university would need to make a nickname transition, depending on the vote outcome.

Backes said NCAA rules regarding logos allow namesake consent and coupled with the court settlement, should allow UND to continue to use the Fighting Sioux logo, if Standing Rock approves.

The state board wants a 30-year agreement to use the logo and board member Mike Haugen, of Fargo, voted against extending the deadline for that reason.

Haugen told other news sources, "I'm very concerned that we are laying a requirement on the tribes of a 30-year commitment, which is something even our own Legislature would refuse to do."

The issue has been dragging on for years, challenging UND students, tribal members, university officials, athletes, alumni, and others.

"I'm not so sure that over the long term, a change wouldn't be good," said Backes.

David Gipp, president of United Tribes Technical College, said the state board's decision to extend the deadline was a mistake.

Gipp said it will whip up more division and dissension among good tribal people who need unity and cooperation.

"They (state board) appear to be more concerned with political maneuvering to benefit vested interests associated with athletic revenues," Gipp said.

Fool Bear said he believes the Sioux should uphold their constitutionally protected right to confer a ceremonial name, as it did to UND in 1969.

"We can't undo that, jerk it away, and say we changed our mind," Fool Bear said.

Besides Murphy, the reservation also has a new vice chairman. Mike Faith, with 976 votes, beat Ron Brown Otter, with 959. The incumbent, Avis Little Eagle, lost out in the primary by a squeaker.

It also has a new tribal secretary. Adele White, with 999 votes, beat incumbent Geraldine Agard with 934.

Tribal council seats from reservation segments were also up for election and changes there also could affect any decision whether to conduct a referendum.

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 701-748-5511, or lauren@westriv.com.)