Added: 5 years ago
From: Illinifan70
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  • If you think it's offensive you are ignorant. You don't make a mascot ( something that represents your school) a joke. They are proud of the chief and love him. There is no racism either. You could be an actual American Indian and be the chief...

  • :( sadface

  • This video is not honoring natives it is criticing us native american's we don't dance around really stupid like that we dance with honor and pride. this white person who is dancing doesn't know the tradition behind our dancing you think you do but you DON'T! you don't know what he have had to go through in the past all of the killing of our people, killing the women, children you have no idea what us natives stand for. IF YOU WANT TO DANCE AROUND LIKE A DUMBASS THEN DO IT WITHOUT CRITICING US!!

  • Do you even know anything behind the tradition of the Chief? The original Chief went to the Illini Tribe and was taught this dance by the Native Americans themselves. They then gave him the outfit that he wears. From then on the dance was handed down from Chief to Chief, and we treat this Dance with much respect and pride and honor. It was only until a few years ago that the tribe changed it's mind and decided it didn't want the dance to occur anymore.

  • how dare you say good ridance to to him

    he is a symbolic person. Illinois has him as there mascot because they are honoring the indians that lived in illinois

    so get you facts straight before you say things you dont know anything about

  • what YOU don't know, is that the outfit is from the Sioux indian tribe... One of the Illini's great enemies... so much for honoring...

  • I agree, it doesn't seem like a mascot would be such a big deal however the roots of this controversy go deep. It isn't what people phsically see that is the actual problem, in my mind. It is more the meaning behind the mascot. Like a symbol.

    For many native americans the mascot symbolizes the Western conception of what Natives are, and that conception definitely portrays them as not human.

  • John Trudell, an AIM activist, described his thoughts on Christopher Columbus' encounter with Native Americans which went something like this.

    Columbus had started to make speech with the Natives after some time visiting with them. He had asked them what they called themselves and the Natives responded, "We are the people." Columbus and his men must not have ever come to understand the simple response because never has society been able to see Native Americans as people.

  • It's a friggin' mascot

  • well I believe the Chief's dance and the Idea of having a white guy do the dance and dress up as a "Native American" racist, but as a Student at the University I truly believe the students respect the Chief and would like learn more about Native American culture. So I agree with getting rid of the dance but not so of the mascot itself.And contrary to popular belief, you cannot get rid of the "fighting" in fighting Illini because the Fighting is a reference to illinois soldiers of world war 1.

  • I wish chief was still around. :(

  • Good, keep your frown for he's gone and will never be found. We have spoken and the NCAA has listened, lol.

  • You're an idiot.

  • Yes, an idiot with a voice that won't go away.

  • go hunt some buffalo, would ya?

  • Buffalo, yeah right.  The fat stealers decimated the buffalo and left them to rot by the thousands.

  • Miles Brand is a flipping idiot...

  • damn thats a huge school...

  • I'm so sad that the cheif is gone. I cried when he was gone. We will miss you cheif Illiniwek and you will always be in our hearts!

  • Illinois sucks,when you guys going to win a NCAA championship,and quit with your fucking "Dynasty Continues" shirts,you guys suck.

  • Ron, that's a sad comment, especially coming from a Kentucky fan--although I respect Kentucky, U of I is just a better school overall.

  • Congratulations you fool. These "tribes" do exist, and I could refer to them as the "Illinwek" since a confederation existed, just like with the Iroquois. I don't care what "many native americans" think, I care about what the actual tribes "represented" by this think, and they do not approve. This is Sioux tribal wear btw, and not an Illinwek dance.  Use your head.

  • Wow Maxim85, you are clearly in over your head. You must be relatively ignorant about the history of this land, like most people are. You must not realize that the Illiniwek tribe and other tribes do not support "The Chief" because it is a stereotype. You must not know that this is Sioux tribal wear, not Illiniwek. Thank you.

  • The Illiniwek do not exist today. They were not an actual tribe but a confederation of many different tribes, so obviously you are the ignorant one, and my point is that many people would not even know about the Illiniwek if it weren't for the Chief because they don't exist anymore. You totally missed my point, moron. Also, many native americans actually support the Chief or are neutral. I am fully aware of both sides of the issue, being a current student at U of I.

  • The native Americans who support the your chief are actually pigskinned white folk. We the authentic D/L/Nakota and all the northern plains tribes do not approve and we are glad that your chief has been put out of his misery.

  • So you have to be 100% native american to have an valid opinion on the issue? Nice try buddy, but there are "authentic" native americans that support the Chief, but I guess their opinions aren't important. Also this isn't really an issue anymore so let it go.

  • Either you are 100% native American or you are not. Which nations claims these so called percentage natives? We can't let "it" go until the fat stealing exploiters stop taking and demanding more from us.

  • I am part Irish. We grew up loving Notre Dame because they had the tough little Irish scrapper as their mascot. We took it as a compliment that thousands of people would rally and cheer around an Irish symbol. Why can't some native americans take it the same way? Illinois was looking for a tough warrior image, and they chose the chief out of respect. Many native americans took the chief as a sign of honor and respect. A few big mouths ruined it for everyone else.

  • Who are these native Americans who approve of this Chief Heyoka? They must be from the southeast because the northern or southern plains look at Chief Heyoka and cringe. His outfit is a mutation of a fat eater's idea of how we should be. We are the subordinates of society and the fat eaters are willing to mock us without any regards.

  • Part Irish? Which part? Your toe or your hand?

  • The biggest part.

  • Well, which ever part that is, it doesn't give you the insight of the native American plight of racism.

  • All GOOD things? What exactly makes the Chief a good thing? Do you want to just dismiss the complete fucking history of this land?

    That said, farewell, but obviously FSU shouldn't be allowed to do this shit either.

  • do YOU want to dismiss the history of this land? Nobody would even know about the Illiniwek tribe if it weren't for the Chief, having been descimated by tribes of other native americans. Also, the swearing is really taking away from the effectiveness of your post. Thank you.

  • I'm gonna miss the Chief at half time. I hope all the whiny liberals are happy now.

  • Hey guys. I'm a Florida State Student and I'm sorry to hear that the NCAA is forcing you to give Chief Illiniwek the boot. It's a shame these guys seem to have nothing better to do than bother long standing university traditions. You guys had the approval of your respective tribe, right? If so, I really don't see your mascot as "hostile and abusive."

  • Hail to the Chief. I guess all good things must come to an end. Goodbye to 80+ years of history.

  • im gonna miss the chief he wasnt just a part of u of i tradition.. he WAS u of i

  • Hail and farewell to the Chief

  • The NCAA can go screw it self. If Florida State can have a Seminole with a flaming spear than Illinois can have a more dignified Chief.

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