This was a legitimate way of preserving and honoring native american (Sioux, in this case) culture and dance and integrating it into U.S. culture. The dance the mascot performs is an actual adaptation. It was even treated with utmost respect as you can plainly see in the video by the solemnness of the audience. I also heard there were rules, or at least discouragements, against making any sort of rude gesture toward the dance, such as booing or mocking. Aaand then it went and got canceled because... offensive?? Erasing any attempt at preserving native american culture only pulls their cultural identity into obscurity. That's how I see it at least.
White people deemed this offensive to Native Americans. Us white people that did the most offensive things to Native Americans gonna tell them this is offensive
It was actually a number of nationwide Native American organizations, including the leadership of one of the last remaining Illini tribes that determined it was offensive to native Americans
Some of my most iconic memories as a child was watching Chief at basketball games and Football games! Long live Chief Illiniwek!! Ik the country was losing itself when they started taking Indian mascots away from teams all over
For my beloved spouse who was an IIlini alumna who died on 1Nov 21. She loved the Chief and cried after this performance. The Chief's portrait is in my (our) den.
This is just the coolest thing. My dad went to U of I for a year before transferring to Northwestern. But he always talks about the Chief and the U of I Alma Mater. We have to quit allowing the tail to wag the dog. Taking away the Chief would be like ending our tradition at Tennessee of "Running Through the T." People would quit going to football games. Bring Back The Chief!
I was there. It was absolutely devastating to lose our Chief. It was a beautiful tradition, not a racist mascot. The left ruins many great things for us.
During the late 60s, early 70s, i was a driver for the air force red cross. I drove many guys to these games and to see the chief do his many dances were exciteing times. His last dance was movieing and sad as that was his last dance. I say " bring him back ". The Illini need to be inspired again !!!! Chief, wherever you are, come back !! We love you !!
Biggest mistake Illinois ever made, bowing to NCAA and snow flake pressure. . I wonder how much Alumni donations they lost in the years following his retirement .. I bet some sensitive "white guy" was leading the charge too. This was the most respectful presentation I have ever saw. FSU has an Indian with flaming arrow but i guess that's OK . i'm 1/4 Cherokee i was not offended so why is everyone else
1/4 Cherokee so you act as if you speak for everyone in the tribe, get real. And you say this is “respectful” as if the dance in this video is actually authentic, I’ll tell you know, it’s completely made up. But that shows how much you actually know. You might as well say “I’m not racist, I have black friends”
Chief is a symbol, not a mascot. All of the dances that chief does we’re approved by Native American tribes when they were introduced. The chief is not allowed to smile or talk when appearing. The illiniwek tribe were not killed off by white people, rather they were by the hands of the iriquois. This is far from racism.
Hi! This is actually called "relative invisibility", where a culture's sole representation is inaccurate and offensive, and it is statistically just as damaging to Native American youth as total invisibility, whereby they are not represented at all. Natives deserve to be represented, yes, but not like this, and not as a goddamn sports mascot, a mantle usually taken up by literal animals. If you don't see an issue with actual, systematically oppressed minorities being grouped in with nonhumans in such a dehumanizing and caricatural way, there is something deeply wrong with you.
It's now been ten years since the heartwrenching and sneaky midnight decision by the Board of Trustees to remove the Chief, a decision made for money pressured by people who didn't understand the tradition and haven't been to even one game. They just preferred to slander the tradition and spew untruths to get their way. It was a sad day to see him go. And we still miss this proud Symbol of the University.
reason it is offensive its not native american guy dancing and that person dancing is dancing gymnastic moves not regular native american moves insulting indians also the costume as well
michael sharp That isn't the point you should go on. you need to look at intention. the chief was loved and respected by all students, and never made fun of. That's much more than what can be said of other schools with Native American mascots.
what a shame the chief is gone. i guess some folks are not pleased no matter what you do . he looked like he was a crowd pleaser and would not have been judged harshly if this were at a pow wow open dance , you don't have to be federally reconized to hAve the spirit in you
Well I think that's done on purpose so that they can keep up the chief symbol on campus, at restaurants, stores, clothes, etc.. Native activists have been pushing the athletic board to just fucking choose another mascot but that process is purposely being delayed
The Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma are the closest living descendants of the Illiniwek Confederacy, having been relocated to Oklahoma in the 19th century. The position of the tribal leadership has evolved over the years. In a television interview with WICD-TV in 1995, Don Giles, then Chief of the Peoria Tribe, said, "To say that we are anything but proud to have these portrayals would be completely wrong. We are proud. We're proud that the University of Illinois, the flagship university of the state, a seat of learning, is drawing on that background of our having been there. And what more honor could they pay us?" Supporting Chief Giles was another tribal elder, Ron Froman, who stated that the protesters "don't speak for all Native Americans, and certainly not us.
You are severely miss-characterizing what the tribal leadership feels. Majority of the Peoria Nation finds him insulting. You dishonor Chief Illinwek by parading your impostor around like he was an animal. The Chief was honorable and lead an entire people.
Chief came to my grade school when I was in 1st grade. So , I was a racist huh ? At 6 years old ? Myopic racist liberal progressives !!! All that is progressive about your movement is equal hate for every single entity that does not subscribe to your hateful & very selfish view.
HE IS GOING TO COMEBACK!!! BELIEVE ME, HE WONT BE FORGOTTEN, HE WILL ALWAYS BE IN YOUR HEARTS FOREVER, & GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. REAL TRADITION NEVER DISAPPEARS, NEVER DIES, ITS ALWAYS THERE.
Chief has to leave but Osceola gets to stay? Mmkay. Don't see anyone getting on the soapbox about how the Notre Dame Leprechaun misrepresents Irish people. It's because they're white right so they aren't allowed to be offended?
cdog1990able weird how the Irish are totally different people on an entirely different continent with an entirely different cultural history and heritage, eh? I know, more than one culture in the world is a hard concept to grasp, but baby steps, baby steps. Next step is figuring out that not all people and not all cultures think the same, regardless of how you personally value their individual perspectives and autonomy.
It's because Irish people should be the ones who decide if they want to change that mascot or not. we can't speak for how they feel. Native Americans (I know one) don't like the chief and find it humiliating and insulting and SAY something about it. If the Irish feel the same way then they could also get rid of that mascot.
I don't particularly think it matters much what the Irish think about it. If race-based mascots are wrong, then they're all wrong, regardless of the race in question
cdog1990able True but historically it's been people who belong to a specific racial/ethnic group who speak out and cause change. So it's not that it isn't wrong, it's that how can someone who isn't Irish try to change that mascot? If a movement against that mascot was started it would have to be led by Irish people, that's not to say that non-Irish can't support it, in fact they most definitely should.
Tragedy they stopped this tradition
cringe
They can change the mascot but they will never erase the tradition if my people. AHO
This was a legitimate way of preserving and honoring native american (Sioux, in this case) culture and dance and integrating it into U.S. culture. The dance the mascot performs is an actual adaptation. It was even treated with utmost respect as you can plainly see in the video by the solemnness of the audience. I also heard there were rules, or at least discouragements, against making any sort of rude gesture toward the dance, such as booing or mocking. Aaand then it went and got canceled because... offensive?? Erasing any attempt at preserving native american culture only pulls their cultural identity into obscurity. That's how I see it at least.
wokeness..............
White people deemed this offensive to Native Americans. Us white people that did the most offensive things to Native Americans gonna tell them this is offensive
It was actually a number of nationwide Native American organizations, including the leadership of one of the last remaining Illini tribes that determined it was offensive to native Americans
Such a heartwarming and respectful tribute to the people who lived in Illinois before us. Goosebumps. CHIEF.
Some of my most iconic memories as a child was watching Chief at basketball games and Football games! Long live Chief Illiniwek!! Ik the country was losing itself when they started taking Indian mascots away from teams all over
WE WANT CHEIF BACK
A SPECIAL To THE NOW DECEASED BIG EAR BOW-TIE WEARING SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS DOING THIS TRAVESTY
Biggest mistake Illinois ever made was getting rid of the Chief
Hilariously racist mascot, shameful it ever existed.
CHIEEEF
Miss the CHIEF!!! Bring back the CHIEF. What a great tradition to have lost.
This was such a great tradition........ruined by the "woke" who try real hard to be offended by everything.
Very Good! Thanks
Tears Hail to the Chief
Very cool. Something is sadly missing without the chief. Linda
For my beloved spouse who was an IIlini alumna who died on 1Nov 21. She loved the Chief and cried after this performance. The Chief's portrait is in my (our) den.
Thats wholesome and preservation of some local history!
CHIEEEEEEEEEF
This is just the coolest thing. My dad went to U of I for a year before transferring to Northwestern. But he always talks about the Chief and the U of I Alma Mater. We have to quit allowing the tail to wag the dog. Taking away the Chief would be like ending our tradition at Tennessee of "Running Through the T." People would quit going to football games. Bring Back The Chief!
I attended Wisconsin but loved watching the Chief perform. One of the great college traditions. A shame it ended.
I miss The Chief...
They should bring this back as a halftime show. Something the crowd can watch in awe, not something to be put on display as a mascot.
Not a show, but a tribute to both out and America's past
I am wondering who was really opposed of The Cheif? Can we have a state referendum to bring him back?
Sad day for Illini nation Hail to the CHIEF !!!!
LONG LIVE CHEIF!
Thanks Liberals
You're absolutely welcome dickhead!
Cry harder <3
Keep letting the communists take your culture.
I was there. It was absolutely devastating to lose our Chief. It was a beautiful tradition, not a racist mascot. The left ruins many great things for us.
Fuck off it was racist as hell and I'm glad he's gone! Bye Felicia!
arnold jack I’m so glad you are glad!! Wouldn’t want you to be offended...or heaven forbid, triggered about a school mascot. 🤦🏻♀️
@@Anonymous-im9ob If anyone’s offended it’s you. As if you life can’t go on unless that racist school mascot stays.
The beloved Chief sold down the river, just like the state he represented. PC culture , Inbred liberals GTH!
During the late 60s, early 70s, i was a driver for the air force red cross. I drove many guys to these games and to see the chief do his many dances were exciteing times. His last dance was movieing and sad as that was his last dance. I say " bring him back ". The Illini need to be inspired again !!!! Chief, wherever you are, come back !! We love you !!
Biggest mistake Illinois ever made, bowing to NCAA and snow flake pressure. . I wonder how much Alumni donations they lost in the years following his retirement .. I bet some sensitive "white guy" was leading the charge too. This was the most respectful presentation I have ever saw. FSU has an Indian with flaming arrow but i guess that's OK . i'm 1/4 Cherokee i was not offended so why is everyone else
1/4 Cherokee so you act as if you speak for everyone in the tribe, get real. And you say this is “respectful” as if the dance in this video is actually authentic, I’ll tell you know, it’s completely made up. But that shows how much you actually know. You might as well say “I’m not racist, I have black friends”
Chief is a symbol, not a mascot. All of the dances that chief does we’re approved by Native American tribes when they were introduced. The chief is not allowed to smile or talk when appearing. The illiniwek tribe were not killed off by white people, rather they were by the hands of the iriquois. This is far from racism.
Let erase all mention and history of native Americans. That will show those, oh, wait....
Hi! This is actually called "relative invisibility", where a culture's sole representation is inaccurate and offensive, and it is statistically just as damaging to Native American youth as total invisibility, whereby they are not represented at all. Natives deserve to be represented, yes, but not like this, and not as a goddamn sports mascot, a mantle usually taken up by literal animals. If you don't see an issue with actual, systematically oppressed minorities being grouped in with nonhumans in such a dehumanizing and caricatural way, there is something deeply wrong with you.
Great college tradition ruined by the few.
The left destroys all it touches, cities, nations, customs and traditions.
The great tradition of stealing an oppressed groups actually sacred tradition and making fun of it for a sporting event. Sounds very appealing.
It's now been ten years since the heartwrenching and sneaky midnight decision by the Board of Trustees to remove the Chief, a decision made for money pressured by people who didn't understand the tradition and haven't been to even one game. They just preferred to slander the tradition and spew untruths to get their way. It was a sad day to see him go. And we still miss this proud Symbol of the University.
Visited a museum exhibit today on RACE. Glad to see that the "chief?" has been laid to rest.
this equals blackface
reason it is offensive its not native american guy dancing and that person dancing is dancing gymnastic moves not regular native american moves insulting indians also the costume as well
michael sharp That isn't the point you should go on. you need to look at intention. the chief was loved and respected by all students, and never made fun of. That's much more than what can be said of other schools with Native American mascots.
So only a native American can honor native Americans? I don't follow your lack of logic.
Long Live The Chief :)
what a shame the chief is gone. i guess some folks are not pleased no matter what you do . he looked like he was a crowd pleaser and would not have been judged harshly if this were at a pow wow open dance , you don't have to be federally reconized to hAve the spirit in you
엣헴엣헴! 나무위키에서 순례중인 씹선비오~ 엣헴엣헴!
I really don't even give a damn about chief illini, but this video has got me tearing up for some strange reason.
dat's racist. White man like you can't see it, but white man like me understood it!
Afanlynness it's kinda racist yeah... But they they never gave Illini a new mascot which pisses me off
Well I think that's done on purpose so that they can keep up the chief symbol on campus, at restaurants, stores, clothes, etc.. Native activists have been pushing the athletic board to just fucking choose another mascot but that process is purposely being delayed
The Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma are the closest living descendants of the Illiniwek Confederacy, having been relocated to Oklahoma in the 19th century. The position of the tribal leadership has evolved over the years. In a television interview with WICD-TV in 1995, Don Giles, then Chief of the Peoria Tribe, said, "To say that we are anything but proud to have these portrayals would be completely wrong. We are proud. We're proud that the University of Illinois, the flagship university of the state, a seat of learning, is drawing on that background of our having been there. And what more honor could they pay us?" Supporting Chief Giles was another tribal elder, Ron Froman, who stated that the protesters "don't speak for all Native Americans, and certainly not us.
You are severely miss-characterizing what the tribal leadership feels. Majority of the Peoria Nation finds him insulting. You dishonor Chief Illinwek by parading your impostor around like he was an animal. The Chief was honorable and lead an entire people.
clint drake he was hard.y paraded around like an animal.
How dare you point out the truth, the left hates the truth.
Losing Illiniwek. Worst move ever. There was nothing like seeing that in person. Hail to the Chief!
I'm a Millennial and I was lucky enough to see Chief Illiniwek live when my brother was in MI in '04-'05.
Chief came to my grade school when I was in 1st grade. So , I was a racist huh ? At 6 years old ? Myopic racist liberal progressives !!! All that is progressive about your movement is equal hate for every single entity that does not subscribe to your hateful & very selfish view.
HE IS GOING TO COMEBACK!!! BELIEVE ME, HE WONT BE FORGOTTEN, HE WILL ALWAYS BE IN YOUR HEARTS FOREVER, & GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. REAL TRADITION NEVER DISAPPEARS, NEVER DIES, ITS ALWAYS THERE.
Chief has to leave but Osceola gets to stay? Mmkay. Don't see anyone getting on the soapbox about how the Notre Dame Leprechaun misrepresents Irish people. It's because they're white right so they aren't allowed to be offended?
Same goes for Louisiana-Lafayette's Ragin Cajuns. Don't hear anyone crying racism over their portrayal of Cajuns.
cdog1990able weird how the Irish are totally different people on an entirely different continent with an entirely different cultural history and heritage, eh? I know, more than one culture in the world is a hard concept to grasp, but baby steps, baby steps. Next step is figuring out that not all people and not all cultures think the same, regardless of how you personally value their individual perspectives and autonomy.
It's because Irish people should be the ones who decide if they want to change that mascot or not. we can't speak for how they feel. Native Americans (I know one) don't like the chief and find it humiliating and insulting and SAY something about it. If the Irish feel the same way then they could also get rid of that mascot.
I don't particularly think it matters much what the Irish think about it. If race-based mascots are wrong, then they're all wrong, regardless of the race in question
cdog1990able True but historically it's been people who belong to a specific racial/ethnic group who speak out and cause change. So it's not that it isn't wrong, it's that how can someone who isn't Irish try to change that mascot? If a movement against that mascot was started it would have to be led by Irish people, that's not to say that non-Irish can't support it, in fact they most definitely should.