I have season tickets to illini football and chief showed up at halftime in the student section and the entire stadium went crazy. He was escorted out and arrested. I miss chief.
As a life long Illini fan and Illinois native and as a descendant of the Hopi Indian Tribe….taking away Chief was a travesty for this university! This entire video made me bawl my eyes out! It’s not the same without Chief Illiniwek
It's not evil cultural appropriation if the actual official First People's TRIBE approves of it, endorses it, encourages it, has a hand in controlling it (marketing, dance, souvenirs, etc.) and benefits from the tradition. Rather, it would be viewed as an endearing honor. Example: The Florida State Seminoles (the tribe helps design the logo and uniforms, etc.) It's HOW it is done...and the respect that is accorded to the history (yes--tragic) and important heritage of the American First People's.
Grew up with the chief, had season tickets as a kid to both football at Memorial Stadium and basketball in Assembly hall. We had great seats and it was amazing, ended up choosing this as my college and was an amazing ride. Will never contribute a dime to my Alma Matter because they got rid of him.
Saddens me my kids will never know this in person. They will never feel the spirit the Chief ushers in, be able to grow up reverencing what he stands for, and be proud to be an alum. Illini sports and the entire U of I lost their identity that day and have never gained it back. Hail to the Chief!
I get that people get their emotions wrapped up in traditions. The music is fun, the dance is fun. But it’s still fucked to trot out a piece of stolen culture for peoples entertainment. Especially when this event is taking place on stolen land. And especially if it’s a non-native person in the costume. ps I’m an Illinois alum
Everyone is glossing over this point. His dance is 100% ballet, the research that went into this character probably consisted of watching Bugs Bunny cartoons. And I bet most people in the crowd believe they're witnessing something authentic. It's not offensive, it's just embarrassingly dumb.
Destroying this tradition is the ultimate racist act. It's how you kill a tradition, a culture. Despicable liberal posers who know nothing of how to respect anything except liberal ideology.
Why is it that Irish people do not get upset with the Notre Dame symbol and mascot (somebody dressed up in a costume)? Why don't Greek people get upset with Michigan State (Spartans) and Southern California (Trojans) for their symbols and mascots? One wonders if one day people will have little memory of Native American culture and history because political correctness and wokeness wiped out the memories. There was nothing cartoonish about Chief Illiniwek. The portrayal and performance was done with honor and respect. And the audience at the football and basketball games, by and large, showed respect and honor when the Chief performed. It was not easy to become Chief. There was more to it than just being able to do the dance.
Living in squalor and drawing checks and drinking hootch is derogatory to the indigenous heritage...not this...this glorifies the culture of a once great nation...learn the difference.
I mean yeah, I think that’s how most people outside of the university bureaucracy felt. It wasnt some silly, goof mascot jumping around that people pointed and laughed at. It was a tradition and people treated it with a lot of respect and reverence. But it’s dead and gone
What a shame that the NCAA politically correct BS says that Chief Illiniwek is "hostile and abusive" but Chief Oceola (Florida State University) is not. SAD! testament !!
Look at how much this guy meant to this university. And the school took this away? What a crying shame. Maybe one day universities will get leaders who listen to alumni and fans instead of a few people who probably never go to any of the games anyway.
As a Hokie fan I value traditon I firmly believe they should have left the chief alone this was a situation where the chief was falling victim to political correctness and yet Florida State can still have their mascot and war chant the NCAA is a bunch of hypocrites.
