Chief Illiniwek is the official symbol of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Chief Illiniwek is sometimes referred to as the school's mascot, though, historically, he precedes traditional college sports mascots, and the University does not recognize him as such. Chief Illiniwek and the Chief Illiniwek logo (a stylized Native American face and headdress, viewed from the front) are trademarks of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Chief is portrayed by a student and wears a traditional Titonwan Lakota regalia donated by Chief Frank Fools Crow . The portrayal also includes a dance of unknown origins, possibly adapted from early 20th Century fancy dancing via the Boy Scouts - see History below. The Chief performs only at halftime of major sporting events hosted by the University.

The stated intent of the Chief is to celebrate the Native American heritage of the state of Illinois, and he enjoys the support and respect of a majority of Illinois residents and University alumni and students. However, the Chief is also the center of a controversy relating to what many Native Americans and others consider a misappropriation of indigenous culture, an inaccurate portrayal of Illiniwek culture, and the promotion of a general stereotype.

History

The origin of the Chief dates to 1926, when Ray Dvorak, assistant directors of bands at the University of Illinois, conceived the idea of having a Native American war dance performed during halftime of Illinois football games. The first performance occurred on October 30, 1926, during the halftime of a home game against the University of Pennsylvania. Student Lester Leutwiler created the original costume and performed the dance based upon his studies as an Eagle Scout. The name Chief Illiniwek was coined by Illinois football coach Bob Zuppke , referring to the Illiniwek Confederation of Native Americans who had historically inhabited much of present-day Illinois.

Another student, A. Webber Borchers, solidified the tradition, continuing the performances and soliciting contributions for a permanent costume in 1930. Since then, the costume has been replaced several times, most recently in 1982. The current costume was presented to the University by Frank Fools Crow , chief of the Ogala Sioux tribe, after being sewn by his wife. Because eagle feathers are sacred to Native Americans, and because they come from a protected species, the feathers in the headdresses worn by the Chief are dyed turkey feathers.

Chief Illiniwek's dance was derived from "Indian Lore" studies done by university students who had been Boy Scouts. Said organization, then and now, works to preserve elements of Native American culture. It may be based on fancy dance, a style that was designed to provide a more secular display than traditional dancing and could be used to entertain visitors on reservations and at "Wild West" shows. The dance has evolved over time; each student who performs the role of the Chief augments the basic performance with his own movements and steps. Only the music has remained unchanged, with the Chief always performing to the "3 in 1," a medley of three Illinois songs, two of which were created solely for the Chief.

Since 1926 a total of 35 different students have performed the role of the Chief. All but one have been men: one woman, Idelle Stith Brooks, served during the 1943 due to the shortage of male students during World War II. None of performers of the Chief role have been Native Americans.

Controversy

Since the late 1980's the Chief has been the subject of much debate at the University of Illinois. Widespread, though not universal, calls to retire the Chief hail from most University faculty and graduate students. Many academic departments, especially in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, have adopted official stances in favor of retirement of the symbol. Likewise, many external organizations, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Education Association, and Amnesty International have taken positions in favor of retiring the Chief. Finally, most Native American groups that have addressed the issue are in favor of retiring the Chief. On the other hand, significant majorities among alumni, current undergraduates, and members of the local community support retaining the Chief.

In brief, those in favor of retiring the Chief argue that the Chief misappropriates Native American culture and perpetuates harmful racial or ethnic stereotypes. This, they say, obstructs the creation of a diverse and tolerant learning community, harms the reputation of the University, and promotes an inaccurate image of Native Americans.

Those in favor of retaining the Chief argue that the Chief is a respected and respectful representation of the University of Illinois. While willing to admit that the Chief is not an entirely accurate portrayal of Native American (specifically, Illiniwek) culture, they deny that the Chief is harmful in either intent or effect.

The University Board of Trustees, despite the efforts of several members, has avoided resolving the issue through a direct vote. Instead they have opted to maintain the status quo for the time being and passed a resolution calling for "a consensus conclusion to the matter of Chief Illiniwek." It remains unclear how such a consensus might be reached.

Related links

• Dialogue on Chief Illiniwek - a page on UIUC's website.
• Chief Illiniwek Educational Foundation.org
• The Honor the Chief Society
• Retire the Chief.org