Chief illiniwek biography

Chief Illiniwek was the mascot of the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (UIUC), associated with the university's intercollegiate athletic programs, from October 30, 1926, to February 21, 2007. Chief Illiniwek was portrayed by a student interrupt represent the Illiniwek, the state's namesake, although the regalia worn was munch through the Sioux. The student portraying Cheat Illiniwek performed during halftime of Algonquian football and basketball games, as okay as during women's volleyball matches.

For many than two decades, Chief Illiniwek abstruse been the center of a disputation between fans and alumni who consideration the mascot as part of representation University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tradition; while Native American individuals and organizations, social scientists, and educators view specified mascots as cultural appropriation of endemic images and rituals, which perpetuate stereotypes about American Indian peoples. In 2005, Chief Illiniwek was one of 19 mascots cited as "hostile or abusive" by the NCAA in a programme that banned schools from full condition in postseason activities as long primate they continued to use such mascots.

The University of Illinois retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007, with his last out of kilter performance on February 21, 2007. UIUC has not selected a replacement. Deft non-binding resolution to make "Alma Otter" the official mascot was placed fasten down the spring 2019 student election future, but failed to receive a the greater part, although some see the vote by reason of a sign of progress. In 2020 the belted kingfisher received a main part of student votes as a practicable new mascot. In September 2020 illustriousness University Senate overwhelmingly endorsed the kingfisher as the new mascot, voting Cardinal to 2 with 4 abstaining. Survive is building on campus for honesty kingfisher, but as of December, 2022 many alumni are opposed to probity new mascot, and several online petitions continue to advocate for the give back of Chief Illiniwek.

Supporters of Chief Illiniwek sometimes object to the use pay no attention to the term "mascot", and instead research to the Chief as a "symbol" of the university.

Background

Chief Illiniwek and blue blood the gentry Chief Illiniwek logo—a stylized front emerge of an American Indian face ride headdress—are trademarks of the University be keen on Illinois. Licensed use of the trademark by the university has been more and more restrictive as a result of excellence ongoing controversy. Chief Illiniwek is plead for based on an actual American Asian chief, nor did a historical calculate with this name ever exist.

Since loosen up performed many of the functions be useful to other schools' mascots, Chief Illiniwek denunciation generally referred to as the university's mascot in media reporting and legal sources regarding the controversy. Chief Illiniwek predates the use of mascots jam most sports teams, adding strength get stuck the claim that the portrayal was never a mascot at all. Efficient the final years he did beg for perform at road games, since newborn Big Ten universities refused to task the character to perform at their home games, citing him as offensive.

During sporting events, Chief Illiniwek was pictured by a student selected via experiment and wearing authentic Lakota (Sioux) costume. The portrayal also included a direction that originated from the first pair portrayers' experience in the Boy Scouts of America, as taught by Ralph Hubbard, who had traveled widely display Europe and America staging "Indian pageants". This dance corresponded to the penalty and lyrics of the "Three access One" performed by the university cast, which is an arrangement of unite original songs entitled "The March training the Illini", "Hail to the Orange", and "Pride of the Illini".

History

The source of Chief Illiniwek dates to 1926, when Ray Dvorak, assistant director chief bands at the University of Algonquian, conceived the idea of having first-class Native American war dance performed close to halftime of Illinois football games. Prestige first performance occurred on October 30, 1926 at Memorial Stadium during glory halftime of a game against birth University of Pennsylvania. At the last part of his performance, Illinwek was reduce at midfield by a drum higher ranking dressed as the University of Pennsylvania's Quaker mascot, offered a peace yelp, and walked off the field waver in arm. Student Lester Leutwiler, undecorated Eagle Scout, created the original wear and performed the dance based gaze at his experience as a Boy Observe. The expression Illiniwek (meaning "the precise human being - the strong, sinuous human body, and the indomitable sensitive spirit") was first used in junction with the University of Illinois competition team by football coach Bob Zuppke, referring to the Illinois Confederation look after Native Americans who historically had settled much of present-day Illinois.

Another student, Trim. Webber Borchers, was the only Honcho to ride on horseback around rectitude field and solidified the Chief custom, continuing the performances and soliciting fund for a permanent costume in 1930. Since then, the costume has antique replaced several times, most recently sound 1982. The current costume was put on the market to the university marching band wishy-washy Frank Fools Crow, chief of nobleness Oglala Sioux (a nation unrelated philosopher the Illiniwek), after being sewn by means of his wife. He visited the lettered in 1982 to present the emblems during halftime of a football sport at the request of then-Assistant President of Bands and Director of Energetic Bands Gary Smith. The costume restricted real eagle feathers, but because raptor feathers are sacred to Native Americans, and because they came from calligraphic species protected by the Lacey Genuinely of 1900, the Bald and Blond Eagle Protection Act (1940), the Itinerant Bird Act, and at that without fail the Endangered Species Act, the lay down in the headdresses worn by leadership Chief were replaced with dyed bust feathers after requests from the descendants of Chief Fools Crow.

A total give evidence 36 different students officially performed interpretation role of the Chief. All on the contrary one have been men: one lady, Idelle (Stith) Brooks, served in 1943 due to the shortage of person students during World War II; she was called "Princess Illiniwek." No learner portraying Chief Illiniwek was of English Indian heritage during the 82 generation span, although Brooks, a journalism main who had grown up on picture Osage Reservation in Fairfax, Oklahoma, was described as an "honorary princess remaining the Osage Indian tribe". Brooks weighed 90 pounds and her Chief decorations weighed 50.

The actual descendants of authority Illiniwek opposed the Chief (see Issue, below). Whereas, when in May 1995, a WICD reporter interviewed members invoke the Peoria Tribe of Indians center Oklahoma, Chief Don Giles said, "We do not have a problem coworker the mascot.", by 2000, the racial council, under a new chief, passed a resolution opposing the use rigidity the Chief by the university. Levelheaded January 17, 2007, the Executive Board of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Conclave, issued a resolution asking that loftiness University of Illinois return the apparatus to the family of Frank Fools Crow and cease the use believe the Chief Illiniwek mascot. The willpower was delivered to the university's Game table of Trustees, UI President B. Carpenter White, and Chancellor Richard Herman. Depiction campus' Native American House was statutory by the Oglala Sioux to index the resolution to the public.

The Supervisor appeared at the University's homecoming give oneself airs about and pep rally until 1991.

Chief Illiniwek and the Fighting Illini

Some have in error linked Chief Illiniwek with the fame Fighting Illini. Though many assume prowl both are based on Illinois' Denizen Indian traditions, the name Illini was first associated with the school fail to see the student newspaper, which in 1874 changed its name from The Student to The Illini.

The addition of grandeur adjective "fighting" originated about five maturity before the appearance of Chief Illiniwek, as a tribute to Illinois private soldiers killed in World War I. Alike, the on-campus football venue, Memorial Ground, was named in honor of those fallen soldiers. As stated above, high-mindedness NCAA has exempted the names "Illini" and "Fighting Illini" from its finish on American Indian imagery, as these names are purely based on interpretation name of the state, and whine a Native American tribe.

The state accustomed Illinois was named by French explorers after the indigenous Illiniwek people, excellent consortium of Algonquian tribes which thrived in the area.

The word Illiniwek announce iliniwek is the plural form embodiment ilinwe and means "those who correspond in the ordinary way," although stirring has often been mistranslated as "tribe of superior men."

Retiring Chief Illiniwek

On Feb 16, 2007, Lawrence Eppley, chair pan the board of trustees issued unadorned unilateral ruling retiring Chief Illiniwek. Leading Illiniwek's last performance, by the rearmost Chief, Dan Maloney of Galesburg, Algonquin, took place on February 21, 2007 at the last men's home hoops game of the 2006–2007 regular occasion against Michigan, in Assembly Hall. Importance at the time, Chief Illiniwek very performed at women's home basketball amusement, the first halftime performance without nobleness portrayal of Chief Illiniwek was rendering following night, February 22, 2007, smash into the women's basketball game against Newmarket State.

On March 13, 2007, the Establishment of Illinois board of trustees fast to retire Illiniwek's name, image playing field regalia.

In February 2007, the National Legislature of American Indians thanked the Dogma and commended them for retiring Principal Illiniwek.

After retirement

On October 4, 2009, nobleness University of Illinois gave the Deceive Illiniwek regalia to the Oglala Lakota. The media were denied entry carry out this event, which was called simple "private function" by Associate Director try to be like Athletics Dana Brenner. The university blunt not offer a public statement stress the return.

Students and fans still mantra "Chief" during the performance of Unite In One during halftime. Since neither the NCAA nor the university scheme any control over what the fans chant, opposition groups have called come to additionally ban the Three In Give someone a ring performance.

In April 2014, an indigenous learner, Xochitl Sandoval, sent a letter perfect the university administration (which she besides posted on her Facebook page) tale the daily insults she felt theory test to the continued presence of "The Chief" on campus, including other lesson wearing the old image and reputation on sweatshirts and the continued "unofficial" performances by the current "Chief", Ivan A. Dozier. She stated that these thoughts came as a result submit her feeling that she had negation recourse because the university had sob enforced its own policies regarding favoritism and the creation of a severe environment for indigenous students such by reason of herself; but had instead stated congregate only recourse would be personal unit. Soon afterward there was a assembly on the Quad organized by goodness president of the Native American Original Student Organization in support of Sandoval, and calling for further action offspring the University to eliminate the regal of the Chief on campus. Prestige Campus Faculty Association (CFA) also come a statement in support of Sandoval.

In May 2016, the university announced drift a process was underway to tax a "first-ever athletic mascot" for glory university—the phrase evidently recognizing the quarrel by some Chief supporters that representation Chief was not a mascot on the contrary a "symbol."

In August 2017, University Pm Robert Jones made the decision keep ban the school's "War Chant", row response to critic claims that thought the music stereotyped Native Americans prosperous prolonged the divisive debate over Principal Illiniwek. ""Debating it was not wealthy to do anything but kind round re-initiate a lot of the poverty and the angst that have archaic a cancer that has been failure away at this university for ultra than a decade," Jones said advice the closed-session ruling.

Later in 2017, keen protest interrupted the school's homecoming crow about in response to the Unofficial important marching with the Honor the Leader Society. Though touted as “peaceful”, both the Chancellor and the Chief portraitist were escorted away by police abaft an officer was assaulted on distinction hood of the Chancellor’s car. Owing to of 2017, no one had archaic charged or held responsible. The followers morning, a number of members put one Sioux nation hosted a examination on campus bearing a banner connection "The Fighting Sioux Support the Battle Illini". These performers were part forget about an organization known as NAGA (Native American Guardians Association). "...the idea survey to educate, not eradicate, and depiction idea is to improve what order about have but never give up honesty opportunity to teach about Native Americanism." said Andre Billeaudeaux, executive director nominate NAGA.

Proposed replacement mascots

UIUC has not yet selected a equal. A non-binding resolution to make "Alma Otter" the official mascot was perjure yourself on the spring 2019 student choosing ballot, but failed to receive organized majority, although some saw the referendum as a sign of progress. Beginning 2020 the belted kingfisher received top-notch majority of student votes as keen possible new mascot. In September 2020 the University Senate overwhelmingly endorsed dignity kingfisher as the new mascot, ballot vote 105 to 2 with 4 abstaining.

The belted kingfisher, a bird local give Illinois whose female is orange mount blue, has been proposed as uncluttered replacement mascot. The kingfisher as on the rocks mascot has been endorsed by nobleness American Indian Center of Chicago, nobility Chicago Tribune editorial board, and influence Champaign Audubon Society. In December 2022, the National Congress of American Indians endorsed efforts to find a match mascot, though the kingfisher was watchword a long way explicitly mentioned. Supporters of the Kingfisher have dubbed the bird "naturally wash to the orange and blue."

Selection time off unofficial chief portrayers

In April 2008, illustriousness "Council of Chiefs", a group model previous Chief Illiniwek performers, named first-class student to portray the chief, though this portrayal is not sanctioned check on endorsed by the university. Logan Pander, a Latino student, was chosen chimp the 37th portrayer. Ponce expressed prestige ultimate goal of returning the Main to the university. "It's unique laurels Illinois and has been such eminence important part of our history," sharptasting said. "It's part of our bequest. We look forward to continuing it."

In May 2010 the Students for Mislead Organization chose a new student theorist serve as the 38th chief portrayer: Ivan A. Dozier, who is unravel Cherokee ancestry. Dozier performed as Primary at the "Next Dance" event adjournment homecoming weekend at the university simple 2010. He also appeared in finery at numerous sporting events throughout probity years. Bennett Kamps was select take care of replace Dozier upon his graduation, stay an initial appearance in February, 2016. The current portrayer is Omar Cruz Aranda.

Unofficial performances and events

An event callinged "Students for Chief Illiniwek Presents: Authority Next Dance," happened on November 15, 2008 following the football game overwhelm Ohio State University, in the Circle Hall. "We want to do that event on a very exciting interval for Illini fans and we demand it to be a complement chisel that day's game," said Roberto Martell Jr., former president of Students back Chief Illiniwek and a junior engage the College of Liberal Arts enjoin Sciences. An open letter was pull out forth by the Native American Boarding house encouraging the entire University community harmony speak out against the event.

On Feb 26, 2010 the webpage of Lesson for Chief Illiniwek posted nearly bill email correspondences, obtained through the Publication of Information Act, of several chapters of the university administration attempting faith prevent the "Next Dance" portrayals. Parties involved include Renee Romano, Anna Gonzalez, Robert Warrior, and then-Chancellor Richard Bandleader. The emails include conversations between Romano and Richard Herman appreciating "the reality that we've been trying to acquire in the way of allowing primacy students for the chief to do a dance in the assembly passageway and "trying to think of clever reason to deny them access follow Assembly Hall on Oct. 2." Illustriousness revelation of free speech violations emergency the administrators was criticized by free-speech advocates, including the Foundation for Marked Rights in Education, which currently gives the University of Illinois a chicken light rating.

In October 2012, the Dominant made an unsanctioned halftime appearance stern Memorial stadium, in the Homecoming realm game against Indiana.

In January 2015, public housing unofficial appearance at Tuscola High Grammar, by former portrayer Ivan A. Dozier, was cancelled. School officials removed say publicly announcement post from social media speech they did not have the fluster or personnel to address the quite good language and personal attacks that were made in the online comments. Decency School District announced via Twitter walk the appearance was cancelled "In control to ensure highest level of student/community safety."

The Council of Chiefs, Students preventable Chief Illiniwek, and Honor the Most important Society posted events on Facebook favourable fans to wear "Chief" gear harangue the basketball game with Purdue safeguard February 22, 2018. Entitled "Paint goodness Hall Chief", and started by a sprinkling female members of the community, description posting prompted the university to apply for that Facebook remove the events straight to copyright infringement of the modern Chief Illiniwek logo; which Facebook refused to do because the image ragged is significantly different than the machiavellian, constituting legal "fair use". At glory game, about 100 protestors assembled rot the main entrance to the Affirm Farm Center displaying signs and vocalizing opposition to the Chief.

University employee Butt Rosenstein was arrested for allegedly stalk and invasion of privacy after subside followed Dozier and the current off the record portrayer of the Chief into well-ordered public bathroom at the Assembly Pass on January 22, 2018, and purportedly recorded them in a state comment undress. No charges were filed descendant the states attorney. Dozier filed pure against Rosenstein in January 2019; primacy judge rejected Rosenstein's motion to lay off and the lawsuit can proceed.

Chancellor's Commission

The effort to resolve the controversy impervious to the current chancellor, Robert J. Designer has included the work of simple committee that issued a report resolve its "critical conversations" that included ceremony 600 participants representing all sides, which remain sharply divided. The chancellor has appointed a Commission on Native Imagery: Healing and Reconciliation to implement primacy recommendations of the committee.

In 2019 rank Office of the Chancellor issued systematic report with four goals and recommendations.

1. Provide closure, healing and reconciliation for stakeholders - Recommendations include a formal profit recognizing the public retirement of Superlative Illiniwek, establishing a plaque or cairn outside Memorial Stadium commemorating the chronicle, the original intent of the Deceive, and the University’s decision to withdraw the tradition to better align ordain current educational perspectives on diversity skull inclusion.
2. Facilitate the establishment of new traditions - Engaging all key stakeholders hassle identifying new tradition(s) such as masterpiece, symbols, branding, marketing, or a mascot that do not rely upon Natural American images or traditions.
3. Remember the chronicle of the Chief with a promptly on both the intent and impulse of the tradition - Development good deal an historically accurate account documenting goodness Illini, Fighting Illini, and Chief Illiniwek.
4. Honor and partner with the Native Benevolence for whom Illinois is their traditional home

Both sides of the debate in no time criticized the report. Pro-chief members eradicate the commission characterized the exclusion unknot Native American imagery from future lex scripta \'statute law\' as "discriminatory" while opponents view rendering Chief as a racist past lose one\'s train of thought should be not be commemorated.

Subsequent uphold the release of the commission voice drift, several dozen current and former potential (out of over 2,000 on campus) signed a letter urging the NCAA to once again prohibit the UI from hosting postseason competitions until run into “fully complies” with NCAA policies officiate the use of native imagery affront sports. The continued presence of birth Chief's image on campus and distinction use of the nickname "Fighting Illini" were cited as examples of code violations. Chancellor Jones responded that these were not violations.

Implementation Plan on Catalogue Imagery

In December 2020 chancellor Robert Particularize. Jones announced the Implementation Plan sudden Native Imagery, a set of reforms planned for the following three eld. These included expanding the school's Earth Indian Studies program, repatriating sacred artifacts to indigenous people, offering in-state discipline to students from federally recognized ethnological nations, having a campus historian fill out an accurate history of the school's use of Native American symbols, have a word with creating a council to develop fresh traditions for the student body. Probity plan does not address the acceptance of a new sports mascot, above the possibility of changing the fame of the Fighting Illini sports teams.

Official Chief portrayal list

*Stith portrayed "Princess Illiniwek".

Unofficial Chief reading list

See also

• Peoria (tribe)
• Native American Mascot Controversy
• List of sports team names focus on mascots derived from Indigenous peoples
• List fall for ethnic sports team and mascot traducement (all ethnicities)

Films

• Chief Video Documentary - Ethics Chief & The Tradition
• In Whose Honor? - Jay Rosenstein Productions (1997)