A Spirited Defense Of Illiniwek
From today's SJ-R by one, Amy Reynolds:
Read the whole thing."I find it hypocritical that the Chief's foes are telling us how we are supposed to feel while at the same time criticizing us and accusing us of dictating how Native Americans are supposed to feel. How do Native Americans feel about it? Well, in a March 4, 2002, Sports Illustrated poll, 81 percent of Native Americans didn't think that high schools and colleges should stop using Native American nicknames.
Some facts about the portrayal of the Chief:
The portrayer of Chief Illiniwek uses a feather headdress donated by Native American tribes. Once upon a time, it was authentic eagle feathers, but those have since been returned to the tribes. It is now turkey feathers dyed to look like eagle feathers.
The outfit currently used during the performances was provided by Chief Frank Fools Crow, an elder in the Ogala Sioux tribe of South Dakota, and was sewn by his wife.
The portrayer uses a combination of actual Native American dances.
Many of the portrayers have actually visited Indian reservations in order to enhance their knowledge and their performance.
The portrayer may not make any speaking appearances in costume, but must instead wear a suit and tie.
Chief Illiniwek is only present during the band's halftime performance and does not travel with the team.
The portrayer must not speak while in costume. Marching Illini or basketball band staff members must accompany him to and from the locker room, as he cannot even utter the words "excuse me." The University of Illinois goes to great lengths to make this performance historical and respectful. It in no way should be taken as a representation of how modern day Native Americans are viewed.
Should I, a Caucasian woman, be offended every time there's a historic festival with a portrayal of Betsy Ross? I certainly wouldn't want everyone to expect modern day women to dress and act like her. Does this mean that there should be no more kilt-wearing on St. Patrick's Day? No more stage performances by the bands, the dance groups or the choral groups in any type of ethnic dress?
Chief Illiniwek actually draws attention to the long-forgotten Native American tribes. Many people forget the brutal treatment bestowed upon Native Americans. Chief Illiniwek serves as a reminder that America's "Manifest Destiny" destroyed a proud culture. With the Chief gone, there will be even fewer reminders of a once-great civilization."
13 comments:
Has there ever been a black, hispanic, asian, or even a Native American portraying the Chief? I'm actually quite curious. How does the student who plays the Chief get selected?
Of course it's open to all races, but have their been minority Chiefs? I think a black chief would be pretty cool.
Oh, so the Chief's dance is authentic?
http://www.splcenter.org/images/imglib/N/chief_illiniwek_200x385.jpg
I didn't know that real Native American Chiefs did the old jump up and touch your toes thing.
Now of course, if a tribe grants their blessing (as in the Florida State case) or if there is no mascot type figure (modern Bradley) that is a different matter.
Notre Dame had a black leprechaun a few years ago.
ollie -
The NCAA policy is "Colleges and universities may adopt any mascot that they wish, as that is an institutional matter," said Walter Harrison, chair of the Executive Committee and president at the University of Hartford. "But as a national association, we believe that mascots, nicknames or images deemed hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin should not be visible at the championship events that we control." "
Of course as you point out, if "a tribe grants their blessing (as in the Florida State case) ..... that is a different matter". So what makes the difference is if the institution gets a mrketing agreement with the tribe? Then it can use the "mascots, nicknames or images deemed hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin " ?
So the Native Americans just want a piece of the action and the NCAA is thier agent now?
On the surface UIUC & “Amy” provide good arguments for the “Chief”.
http://www.chiefilliniwek.org/
The arguments don’t work for anyone knowing anything about the Illinois Confederacy's culture, appearance, languages, etc. It would’ve been better had UIUC’s goal been about authentic tradition than a hodgepodge in a dancing symbol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illiniwek
A few facts:
- The Kickapoo (i.e., Kiwigapawa, meaning "he stands about" or "he who moves about, stand now here, now there") settled the area that UIUC occupies. It would be more appropriate to obtain feedback & permission in recreating their culture. Borrowing from other cultures & polling Indian Country as a whole is misleading. It would be more appropriate to use anything from the Central Original People (Algonquian) of the Upper Country.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilchampa/history/history.html
- UIUC’s historical fact sheet never mentions anything about the history of the area prior to its charter
http://www.publications.uiuc.edu/info/facts.html
- Finding information about Japan House & Sousa is easier than finding any Native information on UIUC’s cultural website
http://www.uiuc.edu/artsculture/
- The Lakota were Kickapoo enemies. It’s ironic that the “outfit currently used during the performances was provided by Chief Frank Fools Crow, an elder in the Ogala Sioux tribe of South Dakota, and was sewn by his wife.” It’s more of an insult really & looks nothing like the traditional clothing for the region.
http://www.nativetech.org/clothing/regions/region7.html
- Instead of using the name “Illiniwek”, Kanakuk, a Kickapoo prophet, would have been more appropriate. The name could also honor one of the actual tribal chiefs -- maybe the one that signed the treaty ceding the university’s land.
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/Vol2/Toc.htm#K
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/kickapoo/kickapoochiefs.htm
- If “many of the portrayers have actually visited Indian reservations in order to enhance their knowledge and their performance,” they would be familiar with Brown Co., KS, reservation (& their water shortage) & the TX & Mexico residents.
http://www.texasindians.com/kickapoo.htm
- If the portrayer knew anything about the culture, he/she should be making as many speaking appearances in TRADITIONAL costume as possible.
http://www.tolatsga.org/kick.html
- Not speak in costume or “even utter the words ‘excuse me’"??? Get a grip!! Learn a few Algonquian phrases & REALLY promote greater understanding of the Illinois Confederacy.
- It would be appropriate for a person of the Upper Country or of French descent to portray a Kickapoo. The people wouldn’t have been black nor even had black slaves. They had strong alliances with the French. They would’ve sold any captives as slaves to the black inhabitants of the West Indies.
As a whole, Black Hawk’s defense of his beloved Saukenuck against Manifest Destiny does better drawing “attention to the long-forgotten Native American tribes” than a foolish dancing caricature.
Monelson,
my point about the photo is that the arguments of the following type "this mascot honors and respects their culture" are dishonest.
No one goes to a FOOTBALL GAME to honor the culture of a people. They go to enjoy an athletic event and maybe even whoop it up a little.
Why do I see Florida State as a different case? Native American tribes are not monolithic. Evidently the Seminoles, as a whole, enjoy seeing their war chant used in a sporting way. I am not going to sit here and say that they should be insulted.
On the other hand, I think that it is only polite to err on the side of caution, given that there is no expressed consent in the Illini case.
And face it, "The Chief" is a mascot, pure and simple.
I appreciate all of the points and agruments put forward here. Unfortunately, they add up to zilch. It matter not what we thisnk. The NCAA ruling will be the rule of law that decided the Chief's fate. Unfortunately, the University does not have the blessing of the Illini tribe (read marketing agreement).
End of story, without the blessing of the Illini tribe (read marketing agreement, it's all over.
Interestingly enough, the NCAA does not even ask for a % of the gross from the deal ...
Ok, so let's put this to another test. i am Irish and am offended by the University of Notre Dames mascot, which prtrays my heritage in a negative way. That little Irish image always appears to be fighting, and anyone who knows the Irish, we are lovers, not fighters (name the last war we were in?) And that vile portrail of my people by that Boston professional basketball team is truely demeaning.
Of course being Irish as I am, if you slip me a few schillings, I'll be off to the pub and forget my embarrassment...
What makes the Illni any diffesernt from the Irish?
As a UI alumni and supporter of its sports teams, I have no problem if the university retires the Chief. Frankly, the dance routine is pretty embarrassing. You have a white kid dressed up as an Indian warrior, hopscotching around during a sport activity in front of mostly cheering white fans. There is nothing remotely ceremonial about the routine, nor is it respectful of Native American culture or religious practices. A demeaning stereotype like the Chief has no place at an institution of higher learning.
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Monelson,
I suspect your post was written as satire -- if not, you're the first Irish American I've met who's actually offended by Notre Dame. However, if Irish Americans really were opposed to the Fightin' Irish the way Native Americans are opposed to the Chief, I'll bet that little Leprechaun would've disappeared years ago. Instead, most Irish Americans (who tend to make up a good part of the ND student body, faculty, and alum network) are fiercely proud of the Fightin' Irish. The difference, of course, is that historically at ND it's the IRISH saying they're the Fightin' Irish, while at Illinois it's not Native Americans saying they're the Fightin' Illini -- it's the people who nearly wiped out the Illini who now want to dress up like Indians and call themselves the Fightin' Illini.
The only tradition honored by the Chief is the tradition of American society using Native American culture for our own amusement, while ignoring and insulting the actual, living Native Americans who ask us to stop.
White America once amused (and claimed to "educate") itself at black-face minstrels. No one today would suggest we put a white kid in black face to go sing "Mammy" on the 50 yard line. Why some people think performing in "red-face" is any less racist or insulting than performing in "black-face" is beyond me.
As an Illinois alum, I look forward to the day my Alma Mater ends this embarrassing tradition. I wish our administrators could do the right thing without pressure from the NCAA, but politics and money won't let that happen.
railsplitter -
Your sentiments about the Chief are well put. I am not a supporter of the Chief. I have witnessed many real idian gatherings (I grew up in the Quad Cities, where there is a big gathering every year.) I would agree with removing the Chief.
I also am understanding of racial slurs and the images Indians have had projected of them. (note I do not call them Native Americans. They immigrated here as much as anyone, just sooner. The real Native Americans are all of us who were born here).
I am sure from reading your post, that you understand my reason for using ND and the "Irish". I see two fundemental differences that cause more than acceptance of the ND Mascot (maybe more, but lets stick to two). ND and the immigrant Irish emerged in the US at about the same time. As an immigrant group, the Irish sought acceptance and the promise of our country. At the same time, ND was emerging with many other educational institutions into the modern college\university, complete with sports teams to draw supports and donors. The coincident timing with the Irish immigrants made for a perfect joint tennancy on the name "Irish" - both gained by it's use.
Secondly, there was no "Politically Correct (PC)" movement that segregates everyone into groups and assigns them with disabilities. Nobody telling the Irish immigrant class they are being exploited or slandered by the use of an Irish immage that is fighting.
Now comes the Indians, who gained nothing in most cases when the colleges and universities adopted thier fighting images as mascots. Worse yet, they had a negative reputation for thier fighting images (earned and unearned thanks to a press looking to sell newspapers regardless of the truth). So they have a legitimate grip in that it prtrays an image they don't want. But not one that is necessarily negative.
Throw in a liberal dash of PC and all of the sudden these images become "images deemed the Florida State Seminole image".
Take a look at the Illini image (not the chief, the image of the sports teams). Take a look at the South Dakota Fighting Sioux image.
Now take a look at the Florida State Seminole image. What makes the Florida State Seminole image less "hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin " I see a more angry, more war painted Indian. Oh yeah, it's that marketing agreement that does the trick.
And also take a look at the "Irish" image and tell me if I was wrtiing only satire. The Irish image looks alot more "hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin " to me than those of the Indians outlawed by the NCAA.
that line should have been:
Throw in a liberal dash of PC and all of the sudden these images become "images deemedhostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin."
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