FORT YATES, N.D. - A supporter of the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation says the Tribal Council has voted down a request to hold a referendum vote on support.

Nickname proponent Archie Fool Bear says the vote was 6-7 with two missing and one abstention. He says he doesn't think the vote was decisive.

Some believe UND's nickname and Native American head logo are offensive. The school plans to retire them on Aug. 1, 2010, unless the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes agree by Oct. 1 to give UND permission to use them for at least 30 years.

Fool Bear says he and others will gather more signatures to petition the council for a referendum.

The Standing Rock Tribal Council has not only opposed the nickname, it also voted to ban a referendum last year.