Is the 81-year-old American Indian mascot, Chief Illiniwek an offensive use of American Indian imagery?

Question

The mascot has been used since 1926. Supporters of the mascot say it honors the contributions of American Indians to Illinois. I grew up watching Illini sports, and the chief has always been a proud tradition of the University of Illinois. Its a sad day for this Illini fan.

Answer 1

Natasha, as an Illini, I will discuss those points you made and I would be happy to discuss this matter even further with you since you are "educated" on the topic.

1) Chief Illiniwek currect is portrayed by a white male. He has also been portrayed by Native Americans and white females. It is a try out system and the best is the one who gets to perform. Why are you complaining about just Native Americans? Why not the Irish? Why do you protestors not speak out about Notre Dame having a guy dress up like a drunk Leprecan...or is it okay to make fun of white people?

2) The outfit was given to the University of Illinois by the Souix. This was to make it more authentic, since the Illiniwek tribe was wiped out long ago, it is hard to find those that can make that dress.

3) Once again, the person portraying the Chief would have to go each year to learn about the Native American culture and would be taught this dance by the Souix.

4) Once again, the head dress was a gift by the Souix.

5) The dance is what is considered a fancy dance by the Souix. It is not meant to be anything religious, just a way to bring about pride and excitement to the crowd.

I love how everyone believes that we are blatantly making fun of Native American Culture, because when this was brought into existance 81 years ago, it was done with a sense of pride in the fact that we tried to bring a connection to the past of who was actually on this land before it became a state in our great union. That is why the State is called Illinois...the land of the Illini. The whole reason for the University (that and corn).

Oh, btw, scalping was invented by the French so that the Native Americans could bring back a "trophy" to get paid for killing the British and her colonies. The colonists did not scalp Native peoples...learn your history since you are so educated.

You seem to have missed the point. The Chief was a symbol of pride and bravery for the fans and the team. We in the Marching Illini and all the faithful Illini alumni held the Chief with reverence. That is a special tradition that will be no more because of those "educated" people say they are the most tolerant about issues until it happens to them.

Answer 2

Yes it is a sad day when he is going to retired...in this age politcal correctness any thing can happen..why is one is offensive and another is not....now watch for peta to get some say because some teams are named Tigers Bears Gators Panthers .and so forth//i to like the Illini i have been an Illini fan for a long time..i wish people would put as much effort into other things like fixing the health insurance problems and social security problems that we are going to face in the near future instead of sports mascots ..this place would be better of i wish they would leave well enough alone.

Answer 3

If I'm not mistaken, I think the Illini tribe is dead. So why make a huge problem about when there is nobody complaining about.
I went to my first Illini football game(Juice's first start vs. Iowa)
and watching the halftime show was something that you will never see again, and that sucks. It is truly a sad day in Illini Nation.

Answer 4

Only to a few morons that would ***** if they were hung with a new rope.'
It pisses me off that the NCAA is making them do it. So much for watching College Football. are NCAA Sports any more.
I always looked at it like everytime the Illini won with Chief Illiniwek out there on the field with them, they were winning one for the Indians against the white man.

Answer 5

Do you know what is the saddest part of it all. No one would even know who the Illiniwek Indians were if it weren't for the Uof I, and soon we will forget. The dance and garb are authentic as the student chief is sent to a reservation in Oklahoma to learn the dance and the outfit was donated to the Uof I by, I believe the Peoria Indian tribe. This is no longer the land of the free thanks to the Liberal Democrats.

Answer 6

I can answer this question. I was one of a few who led a campaign at the University of Oregon against teams who use Native mascots. In fact my name was on the ESPN front page (of their website). I can give you so much information on this I am SURE i can at least get you thinking about my point of view.

Before I respond to your comment however let me say that Illinois already has to hang up their mascot because of an official ruling by the NCAA

The mascot is hurting Native people, to respond to your comment. Wether it was intended to do so or not. It is not a historical reference. There is nothing about Chief Illiniwek that represents actual Native culture. It promotes steretypes. The Illini did not give permission to have their name used. The Chief is a misrepresentation of Native culture. First, it's a White guy dressing up as a Native. That in itself is wrong. Do you dress up like a Black person??? I think we can all see that it is wrong to dress up as an African American or a Jewish person. Why is it not wrong to dress up like a Native American. Second, the clothes that the Chief wears are Sioux clothes, a tribe unrrelated to th Illini, they just wear it because it fits the cultural stereotype of Native dress. Third, the clothes the Chief wears represent something important in Native culture and would Never be worn to a sports game. Fourth, feathers are sacred and shouldn't be worn in that capacity. Fifth, the dance the Chief does is FAKE it is gymnasitcs. That is blatantly making fun of Native culture. A White guy dresses up in fake Native clothes that reprsent another tribe's culture and does gymnastics on a sports arena. What about this is honoring the tribe? Nothing.

Okay not only does this misrepresent Native culture and spread stereotypes. Think about Native children that have to see this crap. How confusing is it for them to see someone who does this? How confusing is it for them to have other children at their school imitate this mascot? How HORRIBLE is it for them to see people doing the tomahawk chop, which is done at nearly every sports event with a mascot. The tomahawk chop represents scalping of Native peoples.

If you want more information I can give it to you. Please feel free to email me. I have an EDUCATED response to anything you can throw at me regarding this topic. [e-mail], please only email me if you are willing to discuss it in a civil manner.

IF NATIVE PEOPLE WANT IT TO STOP THEN IT SHOULD STOP!!!

Answer 7

I think its STUPID that they are taking away the cheif.
I mean, its a tradition.
And the Illini tribe has been gone for a long time.
And its not like they care if the Cheif is the U of I mascot.
Its the end of a tradition.
The NCAA sucks.

Answer 8

what about
flordia seminols

Braves ---
Alcorn State University (Lorman, Mississippi)
Bradley University (Peoria, Illinois)
Chowan College (Murfreesboro, North Carolina)
Goldey-Beacom College (Wilmington, Delaware)
Husson College (Bangor, Maine)
Ottawa University (Ottawa, Kansas)
University of North Carolina-Pembroke (Pembroke, North Carolina) (former name: Pembroke State University

Indians ---
Arkansas State University (Jonesboro, Arkansas)
Catawba College (Salisbury, North Carolina)
Haskell Indian Nations University (Lawrence, Kansas)
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
Martin Methodist College (Pulaski, Tennessee)
McMurry University (Abilene, Texas)
Newberry College (Newberry, South Carolina)

Sioux ---
University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, North Dakota)

Tribe ---
College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)


And many more if it is bad one it should be bad for the rest and many more

Answer 9

No. That is ridiculous. Listen, I doni't think this mascot thing should even be an issue. We stole their land... three hundred years ago. It is time to get over it. They don't pay taxes and they have casinos, quit complaining.

Answer 10

i dont see why anyone cares if someone uses the image of a native american as their mascot. you dont see any irish people complaining about notre dame.