"Chief" Illiniwek Regalia Returned to Ogalala Lakota
Submitted by Neil Parthun on October 4, 2009 - 11:41am
Only one day after the anti-"Chief" rally at Assembly Hall protesting the Students for Chief Illiniwek's "Next Dance," the News Gazette had a major story buried on A8 of the Sunday newspaper.
In the middle of the page is a headline "Regalia returned." There is a picture of former "Chief" portrayers and representatives of the Ogalala Lakota College. The caption reads: "Former Chief Illiniwek portrayers and representatives of the Ogalala Lakota College gather outside the Varsity Room at Memorial Stadium on Saturday before the Illinois-Penn State football game in preparation for a transfer of the University of Illinois' chief regalia to Ogalala Lakota College. A News-Gazette photographer was refused admittance to the ceremony by UI Associate Director of Athletics Dana Brenner, who told the photographer it was a 'private function.'"
This return comes after past statements from Frank Fools Crow disapproving of how the University used the regalia it purchased from him, the Executive Committee of the Ogalala Tribal Council passing a resolution asking the regalia be returned and the subsequent retirement of the "Chief" by the University in 2007.
disapproving of how the University used the regalia
Wow. Very cool. If the regalia was returned to the Lakota, this is indeed a very huge thing: an embarrassment to the University, a humbling experience especially to the past portrayers of the Chief.
-karen medina
Returned is the wrong word
I think "returned" is the wrong word here, as that implies it was the University that was simply "done with" the regalia, when in fact, it was the Ogalala Lakota demanding a recall of their regalia due to improper use.
Perhaps "Lakota Tribe Revokes University's Use Of Chief Regalia" would be more accurate.
??
Independent papers are questionsed by those in the public when they put items of contention in quotations...
To first commentor, after speaking to many of those who portrayed the symbol, the humbling experience always has been those four minutes, and fifty seconds of something truly unique..
**
I appologize for the editing error, questioned is the correct spelling
Consider the Point of View of Others
If you have a concern about putting contentious terms of discourse in quotes, I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Doing so is an indication that something IS contentious and has an unsettled meaning. You have your point of view, but others have their own view.
You're right about one thing. Dressing a white kid up in redface to pretend to be a Native American, then having him dance an invented dance to some white guy's tune is certainly unique. No one except the mascot ever did that in real life. As others have mentioned before, it would be inappropriate to dress up like a rabbi, priest, or minister, twirling a Torah or Bible, dancing to non-sacred music in a way that would be offensive to most people.
What's also unique is that no one would argue it's permissible to do any of that -- unless you're an Illini fan stealing and degrading the image of an oppressed people who had been subjected to a Holocaust-like Trail of Tears.
I guess the fact that the KKK had a chapter on campus when the "chief" was invented explains a lot about white culture, though. The UI was not unqiue in that at the time, but it's remarkable that so many can't let go of something so offensive that it is now tolerated in very few places, putting into question the academic integrity of our faculty, staff, and students in a way that has only been equaled by the I-list/clout scandal.
This is why I'm against the Anti-Chief arguements
I'll give you that Chief Illiniweck has almost always been a white college student. But it's an auditioned role, and anyone could potentially recieve it, regardless of race.
The "invented dance" was a researched adaption of the less-religious dances that are deemed appropriate for visitors to oberserve, the "white guy's tune"s are songs very closely associated with the school.
You mention that the dance is performed in such "a way that would be offensive to most people." Not only the dance done in a very respectful fasion, but most people DON'T FIND IT OFFENSIVE. Of the student body, only around 30% of students find the Chief offensive. The closest tribal desendents of the Illiniwek are proud to be represented by the University in this way, and a number of individuals have stated that protestors do not speak for all native americans, and certainly not themselves.
Yes, the tribes of the Illinois Confederation were relocated with the Indian removal act; but they weren't specifically on the Trail of Tears, which is associated with the tribes of the south east rather than the midwest; the various tribes are largely autonomous, to group all Native American cultures and events together is just as oppressive and demeaning as you claim the Chief is
And really? A KKK reference? Apples and Oranges. Yes, the Klan discriminated against many, if not all non-white races. What does that have to do with the Chief? Admittedly, the early 1920's were far less racially tolerant than the present day. But Chief Illiniwek was concieved as, and remains, a symbol of respect for the natives of Illinois. The criticism brought against him is largely mis-founded, and often pressured from an increasingly over politically-correct nation. He is neither the super-offensive symbol you claim, nor is he the result of several individual's poor descisions for personal game, like the clout scandal.
Thanks for playing, though
Trail of Tears
If the Chief had been used to educate people about actual Native American history and issues I think the Chief would still exist. Unfortunately, most Chief fans remain purposely ignorant of the history of this state.
FYI - the Potawatami Trail of Death in 1838 was marched within a few miles of the University. You can see monuments at Danville, Catlin, Sidney, Sadorus, Sidney, and Monticello. Do you know who Chief Shemauger was and where he is buried?
As for this myth that the descendants of the "Illiniwek" are proud of the Chief - that is a myth. Although one or two Peoria tribe members in Oklahoma stated that years ago, the position of the tribe and those individuals is now very clearly against continued use of Chief Illiniwek.
People that are against the
People that are against the Chief, need to GET A LIFE! DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH YOUR TIME! ITS NOT OFFENSIVE!
We need to get a life?
Oh, really? Those against the Chief need a life? It seems to me that we've all moved on--it's only the pro-Chief folks who don't have a life. Give it up. It's over. Why don't you try to come up with a new mascot for the school? The big "I" is just kind of sad.
My students suggested the "Illinois Squirrels." Refute that, will you? :)
Actually...
Obviously, if the anti-Chief people had really moved on, this article wouldn't even be here for you to comment on, would it?
Also, when someone tells you to get a life, and you come back and respond to their comment, that kind of proves their point.
I admit I have no room to talk, of course.
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