The Chief

Ok, so I have done some more research about mascots at colleges and football teams and my attention was drawn to Chief Illiniwek of University of Illinois. The Chief made his first appearance on October 30, 1926. The Chief's dance was supposedly conceived from a dance from the Lakota people. Chief Illiniwek would perform at men's basketball and football games until his retirement on February 21, 2007.

I think that Joseph P. Gone, the Associate Professor of Psychology and Professor of Native American Studies at the University of Michigan says it best, "three things are very clear: (1) for decades the university promoted--and the students believed--that the Chief's dance was an authentic form of some Indian tribal celebration; (2) whether or not the Chief's dance was originally "derived" from a Lakota ritual, it was "adapted"early on for sports events and currently resembles no traditional or contemporary expression of dance known to native people, the Lakota included; and (3) even if the current Chief's dance were an accurate portrayal of any Lakota dance form, that form is Lakota and not native to the Illini. It is also worth noting that the music which accompanies the Chief's dance is completely foreign to any musical expression known to native people--in short, it is the creation of white America."

In my mind, this is the argument that would drive the anti-Chief side of the debate. Not only is the dance a false representation of Lakota tradition, but the Lakota isn't even near the Illini! The Lakota people are further west, around eastern colorado and the Dakotas! I think the worst part about Chief Illiniwek is his costume. I do not see anything that would support the University of Illinois in his outfit. I believe that mascots should be at least dressed in their school colors. The Chief was not dressed in neither orange nor blue.

I want to hear a compelling argument for the Chief. I am aware of my bias against it, and I'd like to hear the other side.