I am so humbled, honored, moved and grateful for my education at the University of Illinois. My life is positively affected everyday because of the superior world class education that I received there.
The Chief, thought not a mascot, but a symbol of the ground by which the University was founded, is honored, and watching him perform the ceremonial dance still to this day brings tears of ambition, gratitude and inspiration to my eyes. Hail to the Orange Hail to the Blue, Oskee-wow-wow!
how about the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves..... Good grief. if the chief is suppose to be so darn offensive, get rid of all. The U of I will never be the same without the beloved CHIEF.
Wow. 1 Unlike. Whoever that is must feel really lonely, and is taking out his/her anger on one of the most honorable traditions in college history.
To anyone who puts down the Chief, all I can say is this: UNDERSTAND SOMETHING BEFORE YOU DESTROY IT. That is the root of the racism you say you are fighting against.
@Pookatube Bringing back Chief Illiniwek would be almost impossible due to the fact that the guy who spearheaded the movement to get rid of the Chief is now President of the United States.
i spoke with a lakota woman hew has been meting with the school 4 years over the issue an she says the school wouldn't budge on doing things 2 make the chief more educational about the people he represents an it is sad cause both sides of the coin lost because of it
there was many councils with the school about trying 2 get the chief more like a Illinois chief an they refused 2 respect the native culture i have told the school if they hold a pow-wow 2 show they honer the people they portray the school refuses an one of the biggest problems with the chief is the school racks in tons of money off his image an gives zero of it 2 native american indians an that it self is verry dis respectful ~~~ i like 2 see the chief return but do it in a way its respectful
If it's about the money, I'm sure that a reasonable accomodation could be made by the alumni. And I'm surprised the university refused a powwow, although I don't know what complications there might be. Was a reason given as to why it was turned down? Please note: the university holds Chief Illiniwek in the highest respect. He does not walk the sidelines during a game, he doesn't do pushups after a touchdown. What you see here is his only game appearance and that's how those who love him want it.
Chief Illiniwek returns Nov. 15 at the Assembly Hall. Time not established but either before or after Ohio State game. The university "retired" the Chief, but students have free speech rights. A new Chief Illiniwek will perform in replica regalia. The event is free for students, $5 for the general public. There are 17,000 seats in the Assembly hall. Friends of the Chief should be standing in front of one of them. (Who could sit?)
honestly why the fuck do people continue to debate this..the solution is to have a white guy in street clothes go out and do the dance because theres nothing racist about that.
Go Chief Go. Dumb PC libs. Isnt there a Native American school with the "fighting whities"? Where is the PC patrol on that? Libs want to censor everything except their own commie agenda. Death to PC and the libs!
I'm in part Scottish descent, but I am in no way offended by the mascot of the Edinboro (PA) University "Fighting Scots" nor am I concerned whether the university's tartan is authentic or not or whose tartan it might be. Please be offended for me, ssssss7. I don't have the time. Or since you mentioned it, fight real alcoholism and diabetes on the reservation caused by metabolism diffences between whites and Indians. Ah, but it's more profitable to whine about imagined slights. It's all money.
I don't think you understand my point at all. If the Scots had been killed off and sent away, then the school was started in the area where they once lived by the same people that removed them, the situation would be more similar. These people who sent them off the land then wanted to make a fictional representaion of the Scot but had him wearing foreign garb, say ponchos and sombraros instead of tartans and a copied dance, but still claim for the better part of a century that he is authentic.
They would have them doing a imitation of a traditional dance just copied from any European, because they are all the same right? While this Fighting Scot mascot is dancing at halftime, it is still forbidden for real Scots to dance that way by the federal government. The land the remaining Scots were sent to is monitored by the federal government. The creaters of the fighting Scots claim they want to honor the scots, but yet don't allow real Scots to attend the school till years after the fak
If that is how history occured, the situation would be comparable, but it didn't occur that way, so don't pretend you can empathize. In fact it is the opposite! The school was FOUNDED by Scottish people, you idiot.
You are profoundly ignorant of both American and Scottish history. I'll start by saying that Edinboro University is in PENNSYLVANIA, a state school named for the city it's located in. It has nothing more to do with Scotland than Slippery Rock University does. You're confusing it with Edinburgh, in Scotland, which is pronounced Edinboro. But you knew that, didn't you? But you, of course, would never stoop to namecalling.
And by the way, when I say "American history," I'm referring to a history of North America--so don't go jumping to conclusions again. Look, you won the battle over Chief Illiniwek. Maybe you are descendents of those Indians who gave "Starved Rock" its name, by trapping members of the Illini federation on the rock until they died of starvation, winning that battle too. There are no, or perhaps few, Illini left, killed off by their friendly Native neighbors.
Now, since that's settled, why don't you start on something substantial that will help the Illini people, such as persuading ABC, NBC, CBS and the NCAA to not say "Illini" out loud in reference to U of I sports teams. That will solve the economic and health problems facing American Indians today! Or go back to your self-pity party. Your choice.
Do you know anything about the school you are writing about, GENIUS (how is that)? LOOK IT UP on the towns website edinboro dotnet "Founded in 1857 by Scottish settlers, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania has grown to become the largest comprehensive university in northwestern Pennsylvania. Edinboro proudly celebrates its Scottish heritage every spring with the Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival."
s, you have to look further than chamber of commerce puffery. The private Edinboro Academy was taken out of "Scottish" hands by the state within a few years, and has been a state school ever since. The Scottish heritage days are sort of like a powwow for scalping tourists. Edinboro U's students are hardly all Scots; few "pureblood" Scots are left in the US. But the Scots in Scotland don't get in a tizzy about EUP's using "Scotland the Brave" as a fight song, and since you're so clever...
...since you're so clever, look up whether MacCado wears an authentic tartan, and if so, of which clan, and what that clan thinks of its tartan being used. And if not an authentic tartan, are Scots in Scotland upset about a non-authentic tartan being used? I know from experience that Scots are proud of their heritage being "adopted" by non-Scots, and would be particularly bemused by, say, black students wearing tartan and singing Scotland the Brave. I guess they're not insecure, ya think?
I don't think it is a matter security. Because of the major difference in circumstances in the school I would be supprised if Scottish people were offended. If they were for whatever reason offended I would be for retiring the fighting Scot, because I place people above mascots or "symbols". I don't believe it is worth offending a group of people just to hedonistically continue a tradition of entertaining people. I would join them similar to the Joint Petition of the Black Organizations.
, Latino/a Studies Program,Asian/Pacific American organization, Center for African Studies Advisory Association Committee, African American Cultural Program, Central Black Student Union, Muslin Student Association, Palestinian Student Organization, Hillel Jewish Cultural Center, Puerto Rican Student Association, and U of I groups advocated getting rid of the chief
Great, all the greivance groups join in, whining in unison. You're arguments are so disjointed, internally contradictive and historically ignorant, I don't know where to begin. So I won't. I'll let your poor, self-pitying statements speak for themselves. There's no better way for people to understand how mis-educated you are. I feel sorry for you.
You still don't seem to even understand my points at all; you are ignoring them and focusing on other issues. This is my last attempt. I will try to use questions since my statements are not working to explain the differences.
1.Where Scots ran off the land where Edinboro University sits where people now claim to honor them?
2. Were Scots allowed to attend when the school opened?
3.When the traditions began, was it illegal in the country for ACTUAL Scots to dance in the manner of the mascot.
There's what can be called a "greivance industry" in the US today. It works by whoever can claim the most abuse gets the most benefits. Thus it's important for people like ssssss7 to discover more ways to complain in a topsyturvy world where compliments become insults. If ALL Indian references in the US were removed tomorrow, there would be complaints about that too. It's called being passive-aggressive, and ssssss7 has it down to a T. If the wheel doesn't squeak, the wheel doesn't get greased.
You just don't care about actual Native Americans as much as you do your "symbol." The harm it is doing psychologically to Native Americans and the influence the fictional characterizations was having on both Native and Non-Natives lead the APA to pass a "Resolution Recommending the Immediate Retirement of
American Indian Mascots, Symbols, Images, and Personalities by
Schools, Colleges, Universities, Athletic Teams, and Organizations." You should read why aand educate yourself.
Most recently near when the Chief was being retired, those loved the chief showed how far their respect for fictional natives extended to real ones. Here was a 1/10/07 headline from Fox News, "University of Illinois Probes Threats Against American Indian Over Chief Illiniwek Mascot." It seems to me like the more people respect the fictional chief, the less respectfully they treat actual Native Americans.
You don't even need to get up from your computer to notice this. Remeber the "If They Get Rid of the Chief I'm Becoming a Racist" from facebook. Or right here on youtube it is very hard to find a chief video that doesn't have pro-chief people bringing up their stereotypes of Native Americans working at casinos or being drunk. In fact, the comments for THIS VERY VIDEO have examples of both! (2 for casinos in fact)
So you're letting the threats and actions of a very, very stupid few define the beliefs of thousands?
The vast majority of tensions that arise on campus have nothing to do with the race (though the race card often gets played) and more to do with support or lack thereof for the symbol.
What I don't understand is that if Chief Illiniwek is "inauthentic" and therefore represents no Native American tribe, why should anyone care about him representing U of I. He's OUR Chief, not yours. He's OUR tradition, not yours. We don't tell you how to celebrate your heritage. Don't tell how to celebrate ours. He belongs to us. Hands off Chief Illiniwek.
Lol who do you think he got the clothing from he used all every year until 2007. Who's dance did he copy? Every aspect of the chief was appropriated or poorly immitated from parts of Native American culture from one tribe or another. You can't just copy all those ideas then suddenly sever you ties and act like you came up with them on you own.
Well, you seem to want to have it both ways. It either is or it isn't, and you don't get off by saying "that's not ours, but it is ours." No, we didn't make it up. Actually, blame Rousseau's Noble Savage for the veneration the American Indian. Rousseau said primitive man was somehow "pure" and civilization degraded man. Now we know that stone age man was more likely to die from violence by human than is modern man. So it would be better to have Purdue's Boilermanker as a symbol, no? :-)
Don't try to act like the chief is just one thing. There are different aspects to the "symbol." And it is not my fault it goes both ways. I did NOT come up with this inconsistant chief.
1. Parts of the chief were authentic, specifically the clothing. (they were not authentic to the Illiniwek, however. He was dressed in the clothes of Lakota, their traditional enemy, because Native Americans were interchangable to the designers. It was just a fashion thing to them.)
2. Parts of the chief were not authentic, such as the dance, which was just an immitation of fancy dance interpreted by boyscouts.
I'm not sure what stone age man has to do with anything, but if Illini had changed its "symbol" to something similar to the Boilermaker it would have been greatly appreciated.
Europe, especially England early in its industrializing days was not a very nice place to live either. In fact archeological data suggests many tribes had longer life expectancies then Engla
If the Chief is exaggerated or glorified in any way, it's in such a way that puts him above the typical, average man. It makes him more solemn, honorable, and respectable. How is that a bad thing?
For one thing, it seems hypocritical going to such lengths for a FICTIONAL Native American while ignoring (or worse) actual Native Americans. Many of the strongest supporters of the chief were also the most venomous towards actual Native Americans such as Charlene Teeters. More historically when the chief started his dances they would have been illegal still for a (actual) Native American to do at that time.
My two cents...the end of the Chief is, in a way, a signpost. He was once a proud symbol of the University of Illinois. The chief is no longer a symbol of pride and the Native American population is no longer a proud people. I am one half Native American and am very ashamed of the greed and corruption my people have exhibited especially over the last two generations. Two proud traditions gone!
Ah, yes, the "Spirit Lake Massacre," when the Native American equivalent of Hells Angels and not respected by others, responded to hospitality by murdering their hosts and enslaving three women, killing one when she became ill. Now THAT's something to be proud of. Yep, let's call it Land of Lincoln. No more Native images. BTW, what happened at Starved Rock?
Spirit Lake Massacre: "Mrs. Thatcher became ill and the Indians threw her into the Big Sioux River and then clubbed and shot her to death as she tried to crawl out." Change the name of the team, change the name of the state. What honorable person would want to share the heritage of the Spirit Lake Massacre?
The relatives of Inkpadutah are proud for he was never caught. If the white folk can name a city after Custer then Spirit Lake Massacre can be our way of remembering our fight against the white squatters.
True warriors do not club sick women to death. If the Spirit Lake Massacre is emblematic of your fight and something to be proud of, consider that after the Wounded Knee Massacre, which began over a misunderstanding based on inaccurate translation, resulted in punishment for the officer in charge. You call a woman killer your hero; the U.S. Army punished the commander who presided over a botched operation. You praise Inkpadutah for courage? It's an odd choice.
The Longknives or Cavalry would split the Dakota women and children in half with their swords. It's a dog eat dog world, you have your facts and have mine.
The 7th Cav did not carry sabers in plains warfare. They were ineffective for that type of combat and heavy to carry, so they were taken out of the trooper's equipment.
Almost immediately most of the Lakota Indian men were killed. A few Lakota Indians mustered enough strength barehanded to kill 29 soldiers and wound 39 more. The bravery of these people was to no avail for as long as an Indian moved, the guns kept firing. Unarmed Lakota Indian Women and children were Mercilessly Massacred. A few ran as far as three miles only to be chased by the long knives of the Cavalry and put to death
Again, mr massacre, the incident started by accident. One of the Lakota was deaf and didn't understand the terms of surrendering his rifle. During a scuffle a shot was fired, and like most such incidents, no one knows by whom. Shooting commenced both ways, and some troopers were even killed by "friendly fire." Things happened that shouldn't have, and the commander was punished for it. Unlike your woman killer, whom you praise. He's no warrior, just a cold-blooded thug.
So I guess we agree, then, that Illinois should no longer use Chief Illiniwek as a symbol of the spirit of the university, as least as long as Inkpadutah is your idea of a warrior. Indeed, if this Native culture, others should want nothing of it. So you and I agree, no symbol of women killers for the University of Illinois.
ok to all you dumb as mo fo's Illinois is the shit!! So is the Chief!!! if you dont fucking like the shit then dont fucking watch it, and Illinois earned there Rose Bowl Trip..
Those who boo the idea say that if you know you are offending the tribe you are supposed to be honoring, why do you keep doing it?
They note that the Chief is supposedly an Illini, yet wore the regalia of a Sioux, one of the Illini nation's traditional enemies. They note that his dance was also not a traditional Illini dance.
Said Dollarhide: "I love it when they say they are honoring us, yet they never ask us how we want to be honored, and this stereotype is not it."
(Sarcasm follows): Speaking as an Illini alum, ALL of the Illini reference must go, including the music, team name, university name...and the name of the state, since it's simply a French spelling of Illini. Then Wisconsin goes, Michigan goes, INDIANA goes. The Mississippi River goes. Let's scrap it all and call it the University of the Land of Lincoln and the team the Railsplitters, using a WHITE MALE as a symbol. I promise to not be offended.
I know, kdogg. The point of the sarcasm is that there's no satisfying people who've bought into passive-aggressive victimhood as a way of life. UMass was once the Redmen, using an Indian image, but the name was changed to Minutemen in 1972. Now that mascot is being criticized because as WHITE and MALE, it's "exclusive," and, goodness, he has a GUN!
Sorry, that "exclusive" should be "exclusionary." In other words, a "white" mascot excludes everyone who isn't white. One wonders why Purdue's "Boilermaker" hasn't been attacked yet, actually. Another thought: I don't think apple pickers have ever been upset by the mascot of Cobden (IL) High School, the Appleknockers, or Northeast HS (PA), the Grapepickers. Oh, where is the wrath!?
Thank you for I am the best dumb son of a bitch in the land. What's your excuse? You see Ohio State is now in the Rose Bowl which moves Oregon into BCS#2 and hopefully USC will be Rose Bowl bound. Thank you Illinois and thank your chief also.
i just watched the video prior to illni v. wisconsin football game today. brought chills to my heart. still in denial that chief not dancing. total insanity. i have to go to you tube to get my cheif fix when needed. this video the best.
I'm with you mhastin2 it was sad to see the 1st 3in1 without CHIEF at St.Louis in the dome! The real problem wasn't p/correctness tho, as much as our LAME UofI president afraid of losing NIT money last year. These other crybabies could have been held off for years!! Now all they have to do is go after all the good examples of N/A culture, like FSU Seminole, Wash. Redskins, Atlanta Braves, drunken casino owners, etc. CHIEF was really a totally hostile & abusive symbol you know!?
FSU is completely different b/c the Seminoles like him. The closest living descendants of the Illiniwek Confederacy (the Peoria Tribe of OK) don't like Chief Illiniwek (the tribe council passed a resolution stating, ""the leadership of the University of Illinois to recognize the demeaning nature of the characterization of Chief Illiniwek, and cease use of this mascots [sic]")
The Seminoles like FSU's money, nothing else. They would be happy with their mascot pretending to scalp someone on the field if it meant they would get more money. Maybe if the Illiniwek Confederation that was mostly wiped out by other Native tribes were still around, we could pay them gobs of money to keep them happy, and this wouldn't be an issue.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Not too high though, right? Maybe a little under you ass so you can show some respect with your very own Chief toilet paper, right? Because that is the Illinois way of showing honor, cover something with shit and flush it down the toilet. I'm sure they show honor to the American flag the same way in the good old land of Lincoln.
The Chief logo has never been put on toilet paper in any official capacity for as long as I've been alive. If you've ever seen it, it was made by some thickheaded dumbass committing copyright violation, amongst other things. But my guess is that you haven't actually seen it, so please spare me your garbage.
It's in Tayabji's wall of shame. Anyways, it was still produced in the mid-80s while UofI was claiming to honor the chief. (As you can find elsewhere on the net they produced chief toilet paper for years after the Ayatollah Khomeini tp was made.) Are you agreeing that in the past they weren't honoring the chief just appropriating the names of an ethnic group they kicked out of the area. However, you you think they changed to honoring the chief more recently? Am I understanding your view?
We all speak on how it's NOT degrading, yet it's a tradition that is not ours and does not belong to us - so how are we to POSSIBLY understand it? While I realize it is a time-honored tradion to those of us with roots at U of I, if the depiction of this is found offensive by those who LIVE it, then there should have NEVER been the question of whether or not to get rid of Chief Illiniwek. It should have been done with no questions asked.
But the people who LIVE it aren't complaining... It's a bunch of white, non-Native Americans that are complaining. Stephen Kaufman is leading the way.
And Ottertraildesign, that just shows how ignorant you are, and how you obviously don't understand that tradition, honor, and respect the Chief is.
I went to U of I and have seen the documentaries and I myself have attended Pow Wows. Native Americans DO find it offensive. It's the racial equivalent of a KKK mascot. It's a moral issue, which is lost on those that lack them.
According to a University of Pennsylvani poll, 82% of Native Americans do not find Indian Symbols and Mascots offensive. And how is it comparable to a KKK mascot?
btsears, do you find the Oklahoma Sooners offensive? How about the Dallas Cowboys? Seton Hall Pirates?
Polls are biased. What tribe(s) did those 82% belong to? Ones affiliated with Illini? I'm sure those tribes not affiliated to the one in question, just as other races, find it less offensive because it doesn't pertain to them. When was this poll taken?And what about the remaining 18%? Do we run it like the government and only "officially" declare it offensive when we get a 2/3 majority vote?
Furthermore, a Sooner is a term for someone who cheated in order to claim land in Oklahoma. OK's official mascot is a covered wagon. A cowboy is an American subculture who, consequently, didn't play nice with Native Americans. Pirates don't exist anymore, and they were theives. None of the teams you mention have a mascot that falsely depicts a sacred ceremonial dance donning the incorrect garb.
It's obviously not supposed to be a a sacred dance. If anything, it is more closely related to an exaggerated fancy dance so that people in the upper seats can see it. The correct garb would also be hard to see and would leave the performer very close to naked.
You keep whining about the turkey feathers, but the turkey feathers are used out of respect instead of the eagle feathers that have religious significance. Also, are you saying that no person that's not of Native American descent should be allowed to perform a native dance, or are you just racist towards whites?
Turkey feathers are used by the white folk or native infants who can't grasp the idea of how to care for eagle feathers. A derelict non-native person is allowed in the powwow circle to dance but only if permission has been granted and that doesn't happen overnight.
Well which is it? Are you going to be offended by eagle feathers or turkey feathers? Are you going to offended by a sandwich? A certain type of tree? What next? Just shut the fuck up.
The pigskinned fat stealing white person can't have eagle feathers but since I'm enrolled, I'm entitled to an eagle free of charge from the great US of A. Long live Bush!
Turkey feathers are also used by white folk who are banned by the federal government from possessing them because the bald eagle is an endangered species. They used to use eagle feathers until then.
very sad that he's gone, it's hard to find traditional ceremonies on native american reservations, let alone something with the exposure of a college football game, all this does is makes native american tradition closer to extinction, by no means does does it deride the native american. What I think is a joke are the handouts that the US government is doling out in the form of tax breaks and casino licenses.
Our traditions will never go extinct. Fat stealing white folk should not have access to our ceremonies for they are ours! White folk are always taking and demanding but this will not happen anymore for we will fight to keep the ceremonies out of the fat stealers hands.
I'm part Native American and I'm perfectly ok with it. You sound like the racist here...
And of course the Illini tribe isn't going to object, because they are not around to object it. So, the Illini tribe is extinct, kind of like Pirates, so according to his theory, it should be oke for Chief Illiniwek to dance. And I dont find it falsely depicting a dance if the student actually goes to a Indian reservation to learn it. That confuses me, I dont think you understand that fact...
What part of your body is native American? Your arm? Your toe? Your ear? When we see a fat stealing wasicu prancing barefoot with turkey feathers, that is an insult. This white student did not go for dancing lessons from any reservation. He broke all protocol and rules by spinning in circles.
Bob224Bob - YOU should be thanked beyond what's possible for compiling and posting this marvellous video. We Illinoisans have so much to be proud of, and much of that IS and forever WILL BE the tradition of CHIEF ILLINIWEK at the University of Illinois. No one can try to make me feel in any way disparaging. I don't buy into that agenda for a moment. Congrats on a job well done! LONG LIVE THE CHIEF!!!!
Does anyone know if Texas Southern is still known as the scalping braves? Gee that sounds a bit more offenesive than fighting illini. Hmmm anyone else?
The headdress and regalia are sacred - which is why Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow actually BLESSED the regalia at a special CEREMONY. This is a victory for the uninformed self righteous morons. The Chief will be missed and hope that the alumni and students can someday bring the Chief back and carry on the 3 in 1 tradition at games.
What do the Sioux have to do with Illinois? Actually, the term "Sioux" is a derogatory term in itself. That is what an enemy tribe called them. "Sioux" means snakes. Usually, Sioux people call themselves Lakota or Oglala. Again, they don't have anything to do with Illinois. Your ignorance is gleaming! Hey so, if a priest blesses me - can I pretend I'm Jesus?
you know what all you anti chief people got what you wanted. you proved democracy doesnt work. also proving that everyone can stereotype and be rascist. people assuming all pro chiefs are white, rascist, and bigots is ridiculous. i think anti chiefs dont understand that the chief tradition is not just watching someone dance, its the feelings of honor and pride yourself and the people around you feel. gives me chills and the last performace brought me to tears.
Tv networks used to broadcast the halftime festivities of college football games. We all used to watch - with considerable enjoyment - the sousaphone dot the "I" in Ohio State. With 100% certainty and conviction, I KNOW that if halftime displays were still televised, and if a national audience were accustomed to watching the 3 in 1, that no one would DARE attempt to do away with the Chief. The public outcry would be too great.
They gave up the fight. Banning the symbol made the rest of us look like we had done something wrong. It's like we still supported the Confederate flag, or hung our white hoods in our basements. It legitimatized the belief that we were racist and ignorant. We aren't. It's a beautiful and moving tradition and everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves.
I can't believe that you do not see the racism and ignorance in all of this. The headdress, regalia and dance are SACRED and RELIGIOUS. It's as if you were to mock the crucifix. This is not an issue of caving in to political correctness. This is an issue of right and wrong. This is a victory for common sense.
I have enjoyed the Chief since I was a little kid. I have nothing but the utmost respect for what the Chief stands for. The Chief is honored by all and will be missed.
Yes you are absolutely right. The headdress and regalia are sacred - which is why Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow actually BLESSED the regalia at a special CEREMONY. This is a victory for the uninformed self righteous morons - like you.
Who in their right mind would end this glorious tradition?! It's not right that the opinions of a few supercede all of us that went there and love and respect this symbol of pride and heritage. He is SO much more than a mascot.
Chief Illiniwek embodies the attributes valued by alumni, students, and friends of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The tradition of the Chief is a link to our great past, a tangible symbol of an intangible spirit, filled with qualities to which a person of any background can aspire: goodness, strength, bravery, truthfulness, courage, and dignity.
Well folks...the powers that be have decided against the Chief and the University of Illinois has finally grown tired of all of the headaches and losing the money from hosting games their teams have earned. So, the administration has decided it is time to retire the Chief. On to the next mascot, may I suggest Fighting Irish.
First off...thanks for posting this! It still chokes me up, and I graduated eleven yrs ago! This is the best 3-1 post out there.
Maybe if he rode a horse and threw a flaming arrow into the turf like they do at Florida State, we could keep him! Whatever -- Keep the Cheif and dump Simon (if anyone remembers that)
What I can't get is the fact that I have friends that are native american and they love Chief. They think he is awsome and they see no problem with him being the Symbol of the university. If you don't like Chief, then don't go to or work at the U of I!! Save the Chief!!!
This is incredible!!! I have to say this brought tears to my eyes. It's hard to think about ending 80 years of this great tradition. Let's all step up and do what we can to keep the tradition alive!! Long live the Chief!!!
If the Chief was abolished, I'd just lose it. I don't think I could handle something like that. I waited for 18 years to see Chief. Every time I see the Chief burst out of the ranks, whether in person or in a video, I get chills and it makes me feel like I'm part of this great University.
Long live Chief Illiniwek and God bless the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Whoever wants to get rid of the Chief must really hate Native Americans, huh? I love Chief and for me, seeing Chief for the first time at my first Illini football game was the most emotional moment of my life. My whole life, I've wanted to go to U of I and my mother has always told me about the Chief, building up his image in my mind. Seeing him in person as he burst out of the ranks of the Marching Illini, I almost cried. He's the symbol that I actually made it to U of I, that's it's real.
agreed. People say the Chief is a racist mascot, but they have it all wrong. He is a symbol of not only our great university, but also our state's heritage. Honor, Pride, Courage, and Loyalty are what he stands for and should be a model for the students of our school.
Best Three in One video on here! Thanks for the post! The Chief is a time honored SYMBOL, not a mascot, and his traditional Peoria Indian dance and head-dress allow us to honor our Illinois ancestry. Rather than cancel this tradition, further pushing Native American culture out of our society, let's honor his likeness, remembering our nation's history.
CHEEEIFFFFFFF!!!! * sings anthem* sniff i love the anthem....... * continues to sing*
biskpinch 1 year ago
I am so humbled, honored, moved and grateful for my education at the University of Illinois. My life is positively affected everyday because of the superior world class education that I received there.
The Chief, thought not a mascot, but a symbol of the ground by which the University was founded, is honored, and watching him perform the ceremonial dance still to this day brings tears of ambition, gratitude and inspiration to my eyes. Hail to the Orange Hail to the Blue, Oskee-wow-wow!
Rafaelle34 1 year ago
@Rafaelle34 woooooooooooottttt!!! u an illini fan to? Oskee-wow-wow
biskpinch 1 year ago
how about the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves..... Good grief. if the chief is suppose to be so darn offensive, get rid of all. The U of I will never be the same without the beloved CHIEF.
cant9562 1 year ago
Wow. 1 Unlike. Whoever that is must feel really lonely, and is taking out his/her anger on one of the most honorable traditions in college history.
To anyone who puts down the Chief, all I can say is this: UNDERSTAND SOMETHING BEFORE YOU DESTROY IT. That is the root of the racism you say you are fighting against.
tromboneking87 1 year ago
I'm notorious for hating college marching bands, but I've got to admit, that vocal part was really cool.
lietz13 1 year ago
Chief!!!!!
fozngrace 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
FUCK THE CHIEF
hunter54able 2 years ago
@hunter54able I did once - it was hot!
BernardProfitendieu 1 year ago
CHIEEEEEEEEEEEEEFF!!
gogunners05 2 years ago 5
Stop the NCAA's PC Communist agenda NOW!!!!
BRING BACK THE CHIEF!!!!
Pookatube 2 years ago 22
@Pookatube Bringing back Chief Illiniwek would be almost impossible due to the fact that the guy who spearheaded the movement to get rid of the Chief is now President of the United States.
UsonianAC 1 year ago
@UsonianAC Can you document that, UsonianAC? Not doubting you. Multiple references, naturally. I was taught well.
isartam 5 months ago
He's OUR Chief, not your chief. We don't tell you what to do with your chief. Don't you tell us what to do with ours.
isartam 2 years ago 5
i'm planning on going to U of Illini this fall. hopefully we can reclaim the chief soon.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
chiefessilliniwek15 2 years ago 5
i spoke with a lakota woman hew has been meting with the school 4 years over the issue an she says the school wouldn't budge on doing things 2 make the chief more educational about the people he represents an it is sad cause both sides of the coin lost because of it
crazycoyotie 3 years ago
there was many councils with the school about trying 2 get the chief more like a Illinois chief an they refused 2 respect the native culture i have told the school if they hold a pow-wow 2 show they honer the people they portray the school refuses an one of the biggest problems with the chief is the school racks in tons of money off his image an gives zero of it 2 native american indians an that it self is verry dis respectful ~~~ i like 2 see the chief return but do it in a way its respectful
crazycoyotie 3 years ago
If it's about the money, I'm sure that a reasonable accomodation could be made by the alumni. And I'm surprised the university refused a powwow, although I don't know what complications there might be. Was a reason given as to why it was turned down? Please note: the university holds Chief Illiniwek in the highest respect. He does not walk the sidelines during a game, he doesn't do pushups after a touchdown. What you see here is his only game appearance and that's how those who love him want it.
isartam 3 years ago
someone want to chat
someone want to chat ug
Hekke 3 years ago
The Chief will return. This is an example of PC gone awry.
IlliniwekLivesOn 3 years ago
This is such a great representation of a college atmosphere, the Three-In-One just feels empty when they play the March of the Illini
lessthanjordan 3 years ago 2
The Chief will return~!~!
bradneedsmorebullets 3 years ago
Chief Illiniwek returns Nov. 15 at the Assembly Hall. Time not established but either before or after Ohio State game. The university "retired" the Chief, but students have free speech rights. A new Chief Illiniwek will perform in replica regalia. The event is free for students, $5 for the general public. There are 17,000 seats in the Assembly hall. Friends of the Chief should be standing in front of one of them. (Who could sit?)
isartam 3 years ago
Shame on you University of Illinois for taking away the Honored Symbol of the University!
ezymk69 3 years ago 2
honestly why the fuck do people continue to debate this..the solution is to have a white guy in street clothes go out and do the dance because theres nothing racist about that.
cubeydoo 3 years ago
Go Chief Go. Dumb PC libs. Isnt there a Native American school with the "fighting whities"? Where is the PC patrol on that? Libs want to censor everything except their own commie agenda. Death to PC and the libs!
DewMan7474 3 years ago 2
What a bunch of cowards to ban this! I am class of 67 but will NOT support Illinois at all because of this. Feminist PC Cowards.
rail64 3 years ago 2
CHIEF
kid1221 3 years ago 3
Watching this now makes me choke up. Long live the Chief!
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago 8
I'm in part Scottish descent, but I am in no way offended by the mascot of the Edinboro (PA) University "Fighting Scots" nor am I concerned whether the university's tartan is authentic or not or whose tartan it might be. Please be offended for me, ssssss7. I don't have the time. Or since you mentioned it, fight real alcoholism and diabetes on the reservation caused by metabolism diffences between whites and Indians. Ah, but it's more profitable to whine about imagined slights. It's all money.
isartam 4 years ago
I don't think you understand my point at all. If the Scots had been killed off and sent away, then the school was started in the area where they once lived by the same people that removed them, the situation would be more similar. These people who sent them off the land then wanted to make a fictional representaion of the Scot but had him wearing foreign garb, say ponchos and sombraros instead of tartans and a copied dance, but still claim for the better part of a century that he is authentic.
ssssss7 4 years ago
They would have them doing a imitation of a traditional dance just copied from any European, because they are all the same right? While this Fighting Scot mascot is dancing at halftime, it is still forbidden for real Scots to dance that way by the federal government. The land the remaining Scots were sent to is monitored by the federal government. The creaters of the fighting Scots claim they want to honor the scots, but yet don't allow real Scots to attend the school till years after the fak
ssssss7 4 years ago
If that is how history occured, the situation would be comparable, but it didn't occur that way, so don't pretend you can empathize. In fact it is the opposite! The school was FOUNDED by Scottish people, you idiot.
ssssss7 4 years ago
You are profoundly ignorant of both American and Scottish history. I'll start by saying that Edinboro University is in PENNSYLVANIA, a state school named for the city it's located in. It has nothing more to do with Scotland than Slippery Rock University does. You're confusing it with Edinburgh, in Scotland, which is pronounced Edinboro. But you knew that, didn't you? But you, of course, would never stoop to namecalling.
isartam 4 years ago
And by the way, when I say "American history," I'm referring to a history of North America--so don't go jumping to conclusions again. Look, you won the battle over Chief Illiniwek. Maybe you are descendents of those Indians who gave "Starved Rock" its name, by trapping members of the Illini federation on the rock until they died of starvation, winning that battle too. There are no, or perhaps few, Illini left, killed off by their friendly Native neighbors.
isartam 4 years ago
Now, since that's settled, why don't you start on something substantial that will help the Illini people, such as persuading ABC, NBC, CBS and the NCAA to not say "Illini" out loud in reference to U of I sports teams. That will solve the economic and health problems facing American Indians today! Or go back to your self-pity party. Your choice.
isartam 4 years ago
Do you know anything about the school you are writing about, GENIUS (how is that)? LOOK IT UP on the towns website edinboro dotnet "Founded in 1857 by Scottish settlers, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania has grown to become the largest comprehensive university in northwestern Pennsylvania. Edinboro proudly celebrates its Scottish heritage every spring with the Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival."
ssssss7 4 years ago
s, you have to look further than chamber of commerce puffery. The private Edinboro Academy was taken out of "Scottish" hands by the state within a few years, and has been a state school ever since. The Scottish heritage days are sort of like a powwow for scalping tourists. Edinboro U's students are hardly all Scots; few "pureblood" Scots are left in the US. But the Scots in Scotland don't get in a tizzy about EUP's using "Scotland the Brave" as a fight song, and since you're so clever...
isartam 4 years ago
...since you're so clever, look up whether MacCado wears an authentic tartan, and if so, of which clan, and what that clan thinks of its tartan being used. And if not an authentic tartan, are Scots in Scotland upset about a non-authentic tartan being used? I know from experience that Scots are proud of their heritage being "adopted" by non-Scots, and would be particularly bemused by, say, black students wearing tartan and singing Scotland the Brave. I guess they're not insecure, ya think?
isartam 4 years ago
I don't think it is a matter security. Because of the major difference in circumstances in the school I would be supprised if Scottish people were offended. If they were for whatever reason offended I would be for retiring the fighting Scot, because I place people above mascots or "symbols". I don't believe it is worth offending a group of people just to hedonistically continue a tradition of entertaining people. I would join them similar to the Joint Petition of the Black Organizations.
ssssss7 3 years ago
Continued.
, Latino/a Studies Program,Asian/Pacific American organization, Center for African Studies Advisory Association Committee, African American Cultural Program, Central Black Student Union, Muslin Student Association, Palestinian Student Organization, Hillel Jewish Cultural Center, Puerto Rican Student Association, and U of I groups advocated getting rid of the chief
ssssss7 3 years ago
Great, all the greivance groups join in, whining in unison. You're arguments are so disjointed, internally contradictive and historically ignorant, I don't know where to begin. So I won't. I'll let your poor, self-pitying statements speak for themselves. There's no better way for people to understand how mis-educated you are. I feel sorry for you.
isartam 3 years ago
You still don't seem to even understand my points at all; you are ignoring them and focusing on other issues. This is my last attempt. I will try to use questions since my statements are not working to explain the differences.
1.Where Scots ran off the land where Edinboro University sits where people now claim to honor them?
2. Were Scots allowed to attend when the school opened?
3.When the traditions began, was it illegal in the country for ACTUAL Scots to dance in the manner of the mascot.
ssssss7 3 years ago
sorry, 1 should say Were not Where
Continued
4.Was the mascot not wearing just the wrong tartan, but one worn by the tradition ENEMY of the Scots?
5.Did the University CLAIM for the vast majority of the mascot's existance that the mascot was authentic?
BTW Scotland the Brave is a traditional Scottish song and played at many sporting events. None of the Illini songs are authentic to ANY tribes.
ssssss7 3 years ago
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!
ssssss7 4 years ago
There's what can be called a "greivance industry" in the US today. It works by whoever can claim the most abuse gets the most benefits. Thus it's important for people like ssssss7 to discover more ways to complain in a topsyturvy world where compliments become insults. If ALL Indian references in the US were removed tomorrow, there would be complaints about that too. It's called being passive-aggressive, and ssssss7 has it down to a T. If the wheel doesn't squeak, the wheel doesn't get greased.
isartam 4 years ago
"If ALL Indian references in the US were removed tomorrow, there would be complaints about that too." You can predict the future now?
ssssss7 4 years ago
No, I can't see the future...but if I see buffalo, I watch where I'm walking so I don't step in buffalo pie!
isartam 4 years ago
You just don't care about actual Native Americans as much as you do your "symbol." The harm it is doing psychologically to Native Americans and the influence the fictional characterizations was having on both Native and Non-Natives lead the APA to pass a "Resolution Recommending the Immediate Retirement of
American Indian Mascots, Symbols, Images, and Personalities by
Schools, Colleges, Universities, Athletic Teams, and Organizations." You should read why aand educate yourself.
ssssss7 4 years ago
We don't whine, we push and fight back. When we do fight back, the white folk retreats back to their old ways of exterminating all that we stand for.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
Cont. (In those situations.)
Most recently near when the Chief was being retired, those loved the chief showed how far their respect for fictional natives extended to real ones. Here was a 1/10/07 headline from Fox News, "University of Illinois Probes Threats Against American Indian Over Chief Illiniwek Mascot." It seems to me like the more people respect the fictional chief, the less respectfully they treat actual Native Americans.
ssssss7 4 years ago
You don't even need to get up from your computer to notice this. Remeber the "If They Get Rid of the Chief I'm Becoming a Racist" from facebook. Or right here on youtube it is very hard to find a chief video that doesn't have pro-chief people bringing up their stereotypes of Native Americans working at casinos or being drunk. In fact, the comments for THIS VERY VIDEO have examples of both! (2 for casinos in fact)
ssssss7 4 years ago
So you're letting the threats and actions of a very, very stupid few define the beliefs of thousands?
The vast majority of tensions that arise on campus have nothing to do with the race (though the race card often gets played) and more to do with support or lack thereof for the symbol.
IMikeItLikeThat 4 years ago
What I don't understand is that if Chief Illiniwek is "inauthentic" and therefore represents no Native American tribe, why should anyone care about him representing U of I. He's OUR Chief, not yours. He's OUR tradition, not yours. We don't tell you how to celebrate your heritage. Don't tell how to celebrate ours. He belongs to us. Hands off Chief Illiniwek.
isartam 4 years ago
Lol who do you think he got the clothing from he used all every year until 2007. Who's dance did he copy? Every aspect of the chief was appropriated or poorly immitated from parts of Native American culture from one tribe or another. You can't just copy all those ideas then suddenly sever you ties and act like you came up with them on you own.
ssssss7 4 years ago
Well, you seem to want to have it both ways. It either is or it isn't, and you don't get off by saying "that's not ours, but it is ours." No, we didn't make it up. Actually, blame Rousseau's Noble Savage for the veneration the American Indian. Rousseau said primitive man was somehow "pure" and civilization degraded man. Now we know that stone age man was more likely to die from violence by human than is modern man. So it would be better to have Purdue's Boilermanker as a symbol, no? :-)
isartam 4 years ago
Don't try to act like the chief is just one thing. There are different aspects to the "symbol." And it is not my fault it goes both ways. I did NOT come up with this inconsistant chief.
1. Parts of the chief were authentic, specifically the clothing. (they were not authentic to the Illiniwek, however. He was dressed in the clothes of Lakota, their traditional enemy, because Native Americans were interchangable to the designers. It was just a fashion thing to them.)
ssssss7 4 years ago
2. Parts of the chief were not authentic, such as the dance, which was just an immitation of fancy dance interpreted by boyscouts.
I'm not sure what stone age man has to do with anything, but if Illini had changed its "symbol" to something similar to the Boilermaker it would have been greatly appreciated.
Europe, especially England early in its industrializing days was not a very nice place to live either. In fact archeological data suggests many tribes had longer life expectancies then Engla
ssssss7 4 years ago
If the Chief is exaggerated or glorified in any way, it's in such a way that puts him above the typical, average man. It makes him more solemn, honorable, and respectable. How is that a bad thing?
IMikeItLikeThat 4 years ago
For one thing, it seems hypocritical going to such lengths for a FICTIONAL Native American while ignoring (or worse) actual Native Americans. Many of the strongest supporters of the chief were also the most venomous towards actual Native Americans such as Charlene Teeters. More historically when the chief started his dances they would have been illegal still for a (actual) Native American to do at that time.
ssssss7 4 years ago
My two cents...the end of the Chief is, in a way, a signpost. He was once a proud symbol of the University of Illinois. The chief is no longer a symbol of pride and the Native American population is no longer a proud people. I am one half Native American and am very ashamed of the greed and corruption my people have exhibited especially over the last two generations. Two proud traditions gone!
jbs1976 4 years ago
Ah, yes, the "Spirit Lake Massacre," when the Native American equivalent of Hells Angels and not respected by others, responded to hospitality by murdering their hosts and enslaving three women, killing one when she became ill. Now THAT's something to be proud of. Yep, let's call it Land of Lincoln. No more Native images. BTW, what happened at Starved Rock?
isartam 4 years ago
Spirit Lake Massacre: "Mrs. Thatcher became ill and the Indians threw her into the Big Sioux River and then clubbed and shot her to death as she tried to crawl out." Change the name of the team, change the name of the state. What honorable person would want to share the heritage of the Spirit Lake Massacre?
isartam 4 years ago
The relatives of Inkpadutah are proud for he was never caught. If the white folk can name a city after Custer then Spirit Lake Massacre can be our way of remembering our fight against the white squatters.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
True warriors do not club sick women to death. If the Spirit Lake Massacre is emblematic of your fight and something to be proud of, consider that after the Wounded Knee Massacre, which began over a misunderstanding based on inaccurate translation, resulted in punishment for the officer in charge. You call a woman killer your hero; the U.S. Army punished the commander who presided over a botched operation. You praise Inkpadutah for courage? It's an odd choice.
isartam 4 years ago
The Longknives or Cavalry would split the Dakota women and children in half with their swords. It's a dog eat dog world, you have your facts and have mine.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
The 7th Cav did not carry sabers in plains warfare. They were ineffective for that type of combat and heavy to carry, so they were taken out of the trooper's equipment.
isartam 4 years ago
Get your facts straight isartam!
Almost immediately most of the Lakota Indian men were killed. A few Lakota Indians mustered enough strength barehanded to kill 29 soldiers and wound 39 more. The bravery of these people was to no avail for as long as an Indian moved, the guns kept firing. Unarmed Lakota Indian Women and children were Mercilessly Massacred. A few ran as far as three miles only to be chased by the long knives of the Cavalry and put to death
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
Again, mr massacre, the incident started by accident. One of the Lakota was deaf and didn't understand the terms of surrendering his rifle. During a scuffle a shot was fired, and like most such incidents, no one knows by whom. Shooting commenced both ways, and some troopers were even killed by "friendly fire." Things happened that shouldn't have, and the commander was punished for it. Unlike your woman killer, whom you praise. He's no warrior, just a cold-blooded thug.
isartam 4 years ago
Say and feel how you like for we're free and still alive to push back.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
So I guess we agree, then, that Illinois should no longer use Chief Illiniwek as a symbol of the spirit of the university, as least as long as Inkpadutah is your idea of a warrior. Indeed, if this Native culture, others should want nothing of it. So you and I agree, no symbol of women killers for the University of Illinois.
isartam 4 years ago
Inkpatdutah can go and I will in turn honor Drifting Goose instead.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
A much wiser choice, in my opinion, take it or leave it.
isartam 4 years ago
KEEP THE CHIEF!!!!!!!!!!
tromboneguy95 4 years ago
ok to all you dumb as mo fo's Illinois is the shit!! So is the Chief!!! if you dont fucking like the shit then dont fucking watch it, and Illinois earned there Rose Bowl Trip..
Pacosworld78 4 years ago
Fans of one team will be wearing attire featuring a distinct Native American face.
The human beings behind that face will be cheering like heck against it.
The real Illini are going to be rooting for the Trojans.
Said Dollarhide: "Let's just say Illinois got a tough draw."
Said Froman: "I picked USC to whip their butts."
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
Those who boo the idea say that if you know you are offending the tribe you are supposed to be honoring, why do you keep doing it?
They note that the Chief is supposedly an Illini, yet wore the regalia of a Sioux, one of the Illini nation's traditional enemies. They note that his dance was also not a traditional Illini dance.
Said Dollarhide: "I love it when they say they are honoring us, yet they never ask us how we want to be honored, and this stereotype is not it."
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
(Sarcasm follows): Speaking as an Illini alum, ALL of the Illini reference must go, including the music, team name, university name...and the name of the state, since it's simply a French spelling of Illini. Then Wisconsin goes, Michigan goes, INDIANA goes. The Mississippi River goes. Let's scrap it all and call it the University of the Land of Lincoln and the team the Railsplitters, using a WHITE MALE as a symbol. I promise to not be offended.
isartam 4 years ago
Well - If we are going to do it, we might as well do it right and all the way.
What happened in this country with the majority rules (is it not what this country was built on - the democratic way).
atmwiz 4 years ago
If it was called university of land of lincoln than the indians would still be offended cuz they still think this is their land.
kdogg2413 4 years ago
I know, kdogg. The point of the sarcasm is that there's no satisfying people who've bought into passive-aggressive victimhood as a way of life. UMass was once the Redmen, using an Indian image, but the name was changed to Minutemen in 1972. Now that mascot is being criticized because as WHITE and MALE, it's "exclusive," and, goodness, he has a GUN!
isartam 4 years ago
Sorry, that "exclusive" should be "exclusionary." In other words, a "white" mascot excludes everyone who isn't white. One wonders why Purdue's "Boilermaker" hasn't been attacked yet, actually. Another thought: I don't think apple pickers have ever been upset by the mascot of Cobden (IL) High School, the Appleknockers, or Northeast HS (PA), the Grapepickers. Oh, where is the wrath!?
isartam 4 years ago
we just beat ohio state, Holy Balls!
aametz 4 years ago
Illinois probably sent Ohio State to the Rose Bowl. Congratulations.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
what the fuck does that mean you dum son of a bitch
funstuff96 4 years ago
Thank you for I am the best dumb son of a bitch in the land. What's your excuse? You see Ohio State is now in the Rose Bowl which moves Oregon into BCS#2 and hopefully USC will be Rose Bowl bound. Thank you Illinois and thank your chief also.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
Hey Funstuff it is spelled D U M B, you dum sun uv of a puta.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
I guess your predition didn't come true! :-)))
jbs1976 4 years ago
No it didn't but Illinois better be glad that the Rose Bowl stuck to tradition which can't be said for the chief and his wayward actions.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
never forget and always honor the cheif
funstuff96 4 years ago
Funstuff, it would help if you could as least spell chief correctly. Either way, may the chief toil in his stupidity.
quicksilverwade 4 years ago
Which game/year was this from?
MWDrill 4 years ago
i just watched the video prior to illni v. wisconsin football game today. brought chills to my heart. still in denial that chief not dancing. total insanity. i have to go to you tube to get my cheif fix when needed. this video the best.
thejakester20 4 years ago
Question to the white squatters. Why is the Chief bending down like a woman? That dance step is for the southern plains traditional women.
quicksilverwade 4 years ago
Sured missed this last Saturday. Halftime is boring now. Simply put, "The removal of the Chief was the result of the silliest political correctness."
mhastin2 4 years ago
I'm with you mhastin2 it was sad to see the 1st 3in1 without CHIEF at St.Louis in the dome! The real problem wasn't p/correctness tho, as much as our LAME UofI president afraid of losing NIT money last year. These other crybabies could have been held off for years!! Now all they have to do is go after all the good examples of N/A culture, like FSU Seminole, Wash. Redskins, Atlanta Braves, drunken casino owners, etc. CHIEF was really a totally hostile & abusive symbol you know!?
tntsher 4 years ago
FSU is completely different b/c the Seminoles like him. The closest living descendants of the Illiniwek Confederacy (the Peoria Tribe of OK) don't like Chief Illiniwek (the tribe council passed a resolution stating, ""the leadership of the University of Illinois to recognize the demeaning nature of the characterization of Chief Illiniwek, and cease use of this mascots [sic]")
ssssss7 4 years ago
The Seminoles like FSU's money, nothing else. They would be happy with their mascot pretending to scalp someone on the field if it meant they would get more money. Maybe if the Illiniwek Confederation that was mostly wiped out by other Native tribes were still around, we could pay them gobs of money to keep them happy, and this wouldn't be an issue.
Maxim86 4 years ago 2
We will always hold CHIEF up to the highest honor, even tho they are too blind to do so!!
tntsher 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Not too high though, right? Maybe a little under you ass so you can show some respect with your very own Chief toilet paper, right? Because that is the Illinois way of showing honor, cover something with shit and flush it down the toilet. I'm sure they show honor to the American flag the same way in the good old land of Lincoln.
ssssss7 4 years ago
The Chief logo has never been put on toilet paper in any official capacity for as long as I've been alive. If you've ever seen it, it was made by some thickheaded dumbass committing copyright violation, amongst other things. But my guess is that you haven't actually seen it, so please spare me your garbage.
IMikeItLikeThat 4 years ago
It's in Tayabji's wall of shame. Anyways, it was still produced in the mid-80s while UofI was claiming to honor the chief. (As you can find elsewhere on the net they produced chief toilet paper for years after the Ayatollah Khomeini tp was made.) Are you agreeing that in the past they weren't honoring the chief just appropriating the names of an ethnic group they kicked out of the area. However, you you think they changed to honoring the chief more recently? Am I understanding your view?
ssssss7 4 years ago
hahaha, I'm glad your stupid stereotype chief is gone, you racist bastards
ottertraildesign 4 years ago
Thanks for the great memories, Bob!!
ibdr2008 4 years ago
We all speak on how it's NOT degrading, yet it's a tradition that is not ours and does not belong to us - so how are we to POSSIBLY understand it? While I realize it is a time-honored tradion to those of us with roots at U of I, if the depiction of this is found offensive by those who LIVE it, then there should have NEVER been the question of whether or not to get rid of Chief Illiniwek. It should have been done with no questions asked.
btsears 4 years ago
But the people who LIVE it aren't complaining... It's a bunch of white, non-Native Americans that are complaining. Stephen Kaufman is leading the way.
And Ottertraildesign, that just shows how ignorant you are, and how you obviously don't understand that tradition, honor, and respect the Chief is.
Stoney4 4 years ago
I went to U of I and have seen the documentaries and I myself have attended Pow Wows. Native Americans DO find it offensive. It's the racial equivalent of a KKK mascot. It's a moral issue, which is lost on those that lack them.
btsears 4 years ago
P.S. go to wikipedia and do a search on Chief Illiniwek.
btsears 4 years ago
According to a University of Pennsylvani poll, 82% of Native Americans do not find Indian Symbols and Mascots offensive. And how is it comparable to a KKK mascot?
btsears, do you find the Oklahoma Sooners offensive? How about the Dallas Cowboys? Seton Hall Pirates?
Stoney4 4 years ago
Polls are biased. What tribe(s) did those 82% belong to? Ones affiliated with Illini? I'm sure those tribes not affiliated to the one in question, just as other races, find it less offensive because it doesn't pertain to them. When was this poll taken?And what about the remaining 18%? Do we run it like the government and only "officially" declare it offensive when we get a 2/3 majority vote?
btsears 4 years ago
Furthermore, a Sooner is a term for someone who cheated in order to claim land in Oklahoma. OK's official mascot is a covered wagon. A cowboy is an American subculture who, consequently, didn't play nice with Native Americans. Pirates don't exist anymore, and they were theives. None of the teams you mention have a mascot that falsely depicts a sacred ceremonial dance donning the incorrect garb.
btsears 4 years ago
It's obviously not supposed to be a a sacred dance. If anything, it is more closely related to an exaggerated fancy dance so that people in the upper seats can see it. The correct garb would also be hard to see and would leave the performer very close to naked.
Maxim86 4 years ago
All the northern and southern plains tribes disapprove of your chief. It was a happy day to see your turkey feather chief put out of his misery.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
You keep whining about the turkey feathers, but the turkey feathers are used out of respect instead of the eagle feathers that have religious significance. Also, are you saying that no person that's not of Native American descent should be allowed to perform a native dance, or are you just racist towards whites?
Maxim86 4 years ago
Turkey feathers are used by the white folk or native infants who can't grasp the idea of how to care for eagle feathers. A derelict non-native person is allowed in the powwow circle to dance but only if permission has been granted and that doesn't happen overnight.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
Well which is it? Are you going to be offended by eagle feathers or turkey feathers? Are you going to offended by a sandwich? A certain type of tree? What next? Just shut the fuck up.
Maxim86 4 years ago 2
The pigskinned fat stealing white person can't have eagle feathers but since I'm enrolled, I'm entitled to an eagle free of charge from the great US of A. Long live Bush!
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
Turkey feathers are also used by white folk who are banned by the federal government from possessing them because the bald eagle is an endangered species. They used to use eagle feathers until then.
jdmac44 4 years ago
very sad that he's gone, it's hard to find traditional ceremonies on native american reservations, let alone something with the exposure of a college football game, all this does is makes native american tradition closer to extinction, by no means does does it deride the native american. What I think is a joke are the handouts that the US government is doling out in the form of tax breaks and casino licenses.
jflash214 4 years ago
Our traditions will never go extinct. Fat stealing white folk should not have access to our ceremonies for they are ours! White folk are always taking and demanding but this will not happen anymore for we will fight to keep the ceremonies out of the fat stealers hands.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
I'm part Native American and I'm perfectly ok with it. You sound like the racist here...
And of course the Illini tribe isn't going to object, because they are not around to object it. So, the Illini tribe is extinct, kind of like Pirates, so according to his theory, it should be oke for Chief Illiniwek to dance. And I dont find it falsely depicting a dance if the student actually goes to a Indian reservation to learn it. That confuses me, I dont think you understand that fact...
stoney407 4 years ago
What part of your body is native American? Your arm? Your toe? Your ear? When we see a fat stealing wasicu prancing barefoot with turkey feathers, that is an insult. This white student did not go for dancing lessons from any reservation. He broke all protocol and rules by spinning in circles.
spiritlakemassacre 4 years ago
Bob224Bob - YOU should be thanked beyond what's possible for compiling and posting this marvellous video. We Illinoisans have so much to be proud of, and much of that IS and forever WILL BE the tradition of CHIEF ILLINIWEK at the University of Illinois. No one can try to make me feel in any way disparaging. I don't buy into that agenda for a moment. Congrats on a job well done! LONG LIVE THE CHIEF!!!!
ms51472 4 years ago
Does anyone know if Texas Southern is still known as the scalping braves? Gee that sounds a bit more offenesive than fighting illini. Hmmm anyone else?
chief2009 5 years ago
The headdress and regalia are sacred - which is why Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow actually BLESSED the regalia at a special CEREMONY. This is a victory for the uninformed self righteous morons. The Chief will be missed and hope that the alumni and students can someday bring the Chief back and carry on the 3 in 1 tradition at games.
katey29 5 years ago
What do the Sioux have to do with Illinois? Actually, the term "Sioux" is a derogatory term in itself. That is what an enemy tribe called them. "Sioux" means snakes. Usually, Sioux people call themselves Lakota or Oglala. Again, they don't have anything to do with Illinois. Your ignorance is gleaming! Hey so, if a priest blesses me - can I pretend I'm Jesus?
Santeria40oz 5 years ago
you know what all you anti chief people got what you wanted. you proved democracy doesnt work. also proving that everyone can stereotype and be rascist. people assuming all pro chiefs are white, rascist, and bigots is ridiculous. i think anti chiefs dont understand that the chief tradition is not just watching someone dance, its the feelings of honor and pride yourself and the people around you feel. gives me chills and the last performace brought me to tears.
kratoslover1 5 years ago
Tv networks used to broadcast the halftime festivities of college football games. We all used to watch - with considerable enjoyment - the sousaphone dot the "I" in Ohio State. With 100% certainty and conviction, I KNOW that if halftime displays were still televised, and if a national audience were accustomed to watching the 3 in 1, that no one would DARE attempt to do away with the Chief. The public outcry would be too great.
wimpy155 5 years ago
They gave up the fight. Banning the symbol made the rest of us look like we had done something wrong. It's like we still supported the Confederate flag, or hung our white hoods in our basements. It legitimatized the belief that we were racist and ignorant. We aren't. It's a beautiful and moving tradition and everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves.
wimpy155 5 years ago
I can't believe that you do not see the racism and ignorance in all of this. The headdress, regalia and dance are SACRED and RELIGIOUS. It's as if you were to mock the crucifix. This is not an issue of caving in to political correctness. This is an issue of right and wrong. This is a victory for common sense.
Santeria40oz 5 years ago
I have enjoyed the Chief since I was a little kid. I have nothing but the utmost respect for what the Chief stands for. The Chief is honored by all and will be missed.
irlfan4 5 years ago
Yes you are absolutely right. The headdress and regalia are sacred - which is why Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow actually BLESSED the regalia at a special CEREMONY. This is a victory for the uninformed self righteous morons - like you.
katey29 5 years ago
He is one of my treasured memories. This is a great video too.
Long Live the Chief!
Darthcrank 5 years ago
Who in their right mind would end this glorious tradition?! It's not right that the opinions of a few supercede all of us that went there and love and respect this symbol of pride and heritage. He is SO much more than a mascot.
iamtommyok 5 years ago
Chief Illiniwek embodies the attributes valued by alumni, students, and friends of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The tradition of the Chief is a link to our great past, a tangible symbol of an intangible spirit, filled with qualities to which a person of any background can aspire: goodness, strength, bravery, truthfulness, courage, and dignity.
welshade 5 years ago
Hail to the Chief! I hate to see him go. It just isn't right!
IlliniPhilly 5 years ago
I agree. Although i'm not going to U of I, i dont think they should get rid of the Chief.
eosnspace 5 years ago
Watching this now makes me choke up. Long live the Chief!
kenz21588 5 years ago
This is so sad that I will NEVER be able to see this live again. As a university graduate and employee it saddens me to see him go.
cubearcub 5 years ago
Peace out, Chief! I loved him growing up, love him still. Too bad.
louielou77 5 years ago
Honor. Loyalty. Tradition. Respect. Chief Illiniwek Forever
keilwerthshadow 5 years ago
Well folks...the powers that be have decided against the Chief and the University of Illinois has finally grown tired of all of the headaches and losing the money from hosting games their teams have earned. So, the administration has decided it is time to retire the Chief. On to the next mascot, may I suggest Fighting Irish.
dfarney1971 5 years ago
Hail to the Chief!
monroe6126 5 years ago
First off...thanks for posting this! It still chokes me up, and I graduated eleven yrs ago! This is the best 3-1 post out there.
Maybe if he rode a horse and threw a flaming arrow into the turf like they do at Florida State, we could keep him! Whatever -- Keep the Cheif and dump Simon (if anyone remembers that)
cubsphan76 5 years ago
Wow, what a great video! (If you can tune out the way-off clapping.) GO CHIEF!!!
steven42188 5 years ago
What I can't get is the fact that I have friends that are native american and they love Chief. They think he is awsome and they see no problem with him being the Symbol of the university. If you don't like Chief, then don't go to or work at the U of I!! Save the Chief!!!
sarff99 5 years ago
This is incredible!!! I have to say this brought tears to my eyes. It's hard to think about ending 80 years of this great tradition. Let's all step up and do what we can to keep the tradition alive!! Long live the Chief!!!
taylordrumco 5 years ago
If the Chief was abolished, I'd just lose it. I don't think I could handle something like that. I waited for 18 years to see Chief. Every time I see the Chief burst out of the ranks, whether in person or in a video, I get chills and it makes me feel like I'm part of this great University.
Long live Chief Illiniwek and God bless the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Klaxz1 5 years ago
Whoever wants to get rid of the Chief must really hate Native Americans, huh? I love Chief and for me, seeing Chief for the first time at my first Illini football game was the most emotional moment of my life. My whole life, I've wanted to go to U of I and my mother has always told me about the Chief, building up his image in my mind. Seeing him in person as he burst out of the ranks of the Marching Illini, I almost cried. He's the symbol that I actually made it to U of I, that's it's real.
Klaxz1 5 years ago
agreed. People say the Chief is a racist mascot, but they have it all wrong. He is a symbol of not only our great university, but also our state's heritage. Honor, Pride, Courage, and Loyalty are what he stands for and should be a model for the students of our school.
Maxim86 5 years ago
Best Three in One video on here! Thanks for the post! The Chief is a time honored SYMBOL, not a mascot, and his traditional Peoria Indian dance and head-dress allow us to honor our Illinois ancestry. Rather than cancel this tradition, further pushing Native American culture out of our society, let's honor his likeness, remembering our nation's history.
prochief2 5 years ago