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CricketHill

Tribe demands return of Illiniwek regalia



By Michelle S. Keller
Tribune staff reporter

January 18, 2007, 1:15 PM CST

The Oglala Sioux Tribe today demanded the University of Illinois return
the
Lakota regalia worn by Chief Illiniwek, the school's controversial
mascot.

In a resolution presented to the U. of I. board of trustees, the
university
president and the chancellor, the tribe called for the university to
"cease use of
this mascot."

The "Oglala regalia is being misused to represent 'Chief Illiniwek,'"
and is a
"disrespectful representation" of the people of the Kaskaskia, Peoria,
Piankeshaw
and Wea nations, according to the resolution. "The antics of persons
playing
'Chief Illiniwek' perpetuates a degrading racial stereotype that
reflects negatively
on all American Indian people."

The regalia itself is not even like that worn by the tribe Chief
Illiniwek is
supposed to have come from, said Malvin Young Bear, cultural liaison to
Vice
President William Brewer of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

The use of the costume by Chief Illiniwek is insulting to the tribe,
particularly
because the ceremonial dress "was a significant honor to wear," Young
Bear
added.

"That's something you earn, as a provider and a protector," he said.
"There's a
lot of spiritualism and a lot of traditional value by the people who
actually wore
it at that time."

The use of the mascot in general is a "slap in the face" to American
Indians,
Young Bear added.

In September 1982, Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow presented the
university with
the regalia — which had been hand-crafted by the chief's wife —
during a
halftime ceremony, according to the Chief Illiniwek Educational
Foundation, an
organization founded by four students in 1998. According to the
resolution, Mel
Lone Hill, a descendant of Fools Crow, wants the regalia returned to
his family.

The American Indian Studies faculty and the staff at the Native
American House
at the university welcomed the resolution.

"There can be no misreading of the Oglala Sioux Resolution — those to
whom
the Lakota regalia belongs and whom the board of trustees claims to be
honoring have clearly requested that the performance and charade of
'Chief
Illiniwek' end," the Native American House said in a statement released
today.

Faculty member Stephen Kaufman, who has spoken out against the use of
the
mascot, said he hoped this latest development would prompt officials to
replace
Chief Illiniwek.

"I hope they realize the continued harm they are inflicting on the
university, its
students, alumni and sports program by their failure to remove
Illiniwek and by
their failure to promote a campus that encourages racial equity,"
Kaufman said
via email.

In 2000, the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma passed a similar
resolution,
calling for the University of Illinois to cease using Chief Illiniwek
as a "mascot."

mkeller@tribune.com
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Mato Winyan

Here is a photo that shows it pretty well. Notice the people in the background.

__________________








"We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life. This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life." ~Debra White Plume

lovestodance

how cant the people that made this imposter up realize what a disgrace this is???look at the picture....this is a constant war between us and the rest of humanity(if thats a correct term) it just pi**es me off when i see things like this and other degrading things against ndn's.....what about a caucasian with the kkk outfit on....what about a german all with hitler mustaches...if that upsets anybody,than how do you think the natives feel???hmm...lots to think about?? as for the regalia..does anyone think that the fool wearing the leather and beads and feathers even knows WHAT it represents....!!!! I THINK NOT!!! people need to geta clue, for a long time now...its been going on too long....lets get real...

RedShield

Once again... thank the Boy Scouts... that's where all this Illiniwink crap came from...

I marched at OSU and got to see the "chief's" dance in their three in one routine... pissed me right off... I'm praying that what has been said is true, and the "chief" is being retired... FOR GOOD!

Did some research on this issue and that one in particular a few years ago... and ran across the history of the mascot as a descendant of a Boy Scout that thought it would be cool... ticks me off...

Unlike many in the BSA and OA (which I belonged to both as a kid) I was a skin that got sick of it, and when I found out that nothing would ever change I got out, and haven't looked back in years... what these guys have done in the name of "respecting" our heritage and culture has made me sick... and the "chief" is just one example out of hundreds!

__________________
I became a singer because I love to sing... and to feed my addiction to cough drops!

CricketHill

You know what some people do not know is that a Sioux students got threaten by some pro-chief students at the university. WE as a people need to let these people know that someone who does that does not need a slap on the wrist but further actions must be taken.

Sleeping Bear

FYI
There are some in the BSA and OA that are trying to change what's wrong and teach the kids properly. If we had a little more help from those who know, it would be a lot easier.

__________________
Something exists.

Sleeping Bear

Agreed. What do you suggest?

__________________
Something exists.

Sleeping Bear

I understand he does his shtick barefoot on top of it. I was taught that this was quite insulting. Something I knew never to allow my boys to do.

__________________
Something exists.

Mato Winyan

__________________








"We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life. This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life." ~Debra White Plume

RedShield

grrrrr... yep time for that thing to go!

__________________
I became a singer because I love to sing... and to feed my addiction to cough drops!

RedShield

What are the hate crime laws like in Illinois?

__________________
I became a singer because I love to sing... and to feed my addiction to cough drops!

RedShield

I know there are a few states that crimes that are racially motivated are automatic felonies

__________________
I became a singer because I love to sing... and to feed my addiction to cough drops!

Bob B Bob Firechief

It makes me wonder that Fools Crow was thinking when he donated it in the first place.

__________________
Never go commando in another man's fatigues!!!

billyjoejimbob

Supposedly he got $3500 for it. At least the university says so. but it was 25 years ago.

__________________
There are 2 types of people in the world...
Really stupid people who think they are smart
and
Really smart people who think they are smart.

~Jingle Pejuta~

This sure makes it sound different than getting paid over three grand for it, doesn't it?

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"Such,things though rare in time, are frequent in eternity. -- Bryon, "Cain"

billyjoejimbob

"The university paid $3,500 for the moccasins, blanket, peace pipe pouch, breastplate and war bonnet with 90 eagle feathers, all owned by Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow, according to the university's archives."

It depends on which article you read.

__________________
There are 2 types of people in the world...
Really stupid people who think they are smart
and
Really smart people who think they are smart.