The Nerd Stash
Law Student and Former Miss North Dakota USA Speaks Out on Racism in Her Home S…
A Native law student speaks about racism in North Dakota and a DMV visit where staff questioned her tribal ID and demanded $1,500.
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Former Miss ND USA Alum Exposes Systemic Racism in North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND – Sanoah Solange, a Harvard alumna and former Miss North Dakota USA, has publicly detailed her ongoing encounters with systemic racism and discrimination against Native people in North Dakota. Solange, an Anishinaabe-kwe and current law student, shared her experiences, highlighting a pervasive issue she describes as deeply entrenched in the state's fabric. Solange recounted historical instances of discrimination, including the controversy surrounding the University of North Dakota's former "Fighting Sioux" mascot, which she states led to "a lot of racism towards Natives." She cited a distressing incident from her mother's time at UND in the early 2000s, where her mother's hair was cut in class, an act Solange unequivocally labeled "literally a hate crime" given its cultural significance for Native people. She also recalled a high school hockey game in Grand Forks where students wore KKK outfits, an event that garnered national attention. More recently, Solange described a frustrating experience at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in Grand Forks. After deciding to switch from her tribal license plates to state plates to avoid being "targeted by the people in this community anymore," she faced scrutiny over her tribal registration card. DMV staff questioned its authenticity and demanded she pay sales taxes dating back to her vehicle's purchase in 2022. Solange clarified that as a permanent resident of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Reservation and a student, she is exempt from certain state taxes, including sales and property taxes on the reservation. She emphasized, "I don't have to pay those taxes." Despite these challenges, Solange, who has spent her teenage and adult life advocating for North Dakota, stated, "I care deeply about uplifting the state of North Dakota, our people and our communities." She expressed her disappointment at being treated with such prejudice by those she aims to improve relations with, concluding, "You messed with the wrong bitch."
