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THE CHIEF'S LAST DANCE February 22, 2007 Susan Bates

Chief Illiniwek, revered mascot for the University of Illinois since 1926, has danced his last dance. His departure followed a long, hard fought battle on both sides.      Growing up in Central Illinois, I have watched many U of I games, both on television and in the Assembly Hall, and the sight of the Chief in his war bonnet and beautifully beaded regalia always invoked pride in me.      I went to school with one future Chief. His father had also portrayed Chief Illiniwek during his college years and as far as I know, they are the only father/son duo to hold that honor.      Being the mascot for the University of Illinois is taken very seriously. I know the men who portrayed "him" spent many hours learning the dances. He was not a joke to most of us. But at the same time, I don't think many of us realized then that the dances, Eagle feathers and beaded outfit were Sacred and not to be flaunted by whites to extol their team to victory.      According to an article appearing in the Chicago Tribune, in 1982, Lakota Chief Frank Fools Crow sold the University the moccasins, blanket, pipe bag, breastplate and war bonnet holding 90 Eagle feathers for $3,500.      This has fueled the debate among Illiniwek supporters that the "Chief" is not offensive to Native Peoples. But in 1982, we had not made the great strides toward self-respect, much less national respect that we have today. And, judging by this long, drawn out fight. we still have so far to go. I expect the Geico Caveman will have a Federal Holiday before we will.      To make it simple, just because one thinks that doing something from another person's culture honors him/her, consider this...... If the College of Pancakes were to choose a mascot and Aunt Jemima were to dance up and down the floor in her red gingham dress and kerchief tied hair, the person who thought that one up would soon check into rehab.......      In the meantime, we have more pressing problems to deal with......

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