Chief Illiniwek

I made this photo particularly large so that you could see cultural appropriation in all of its glory.  The University of Illinois ended the use of the chief  as a mascot due to cultural sensitivity issues two years ago.  Unfortunately some of the students have decided that this distasteful tradition needed to be revived.  The Students for Chief Illiniwek, funded the purchase of a new uniform and the chief is set to perform once again this Saturday at an Ohio vs Illinois football game...Read Full Story

This is our group blog, which is unique because any Zimbio member can post an entry to it. Some members blog about recent news and trends related to the portal topic, others recount relevant personal stories. You can also comment on and rate existing blog entries, to voice your opinion and to help the community identify which members and entries on the portal are must-reads. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this portal? Well, then put on your journalist's cap...Read Full Story

University of Illinois Retires Mascot, Ends Native American Abuse Chief Illiniwek, the University of Illinois' mascot for nearly 81 years, is finally being retired after recieveing criticism.  Activists and some American Indians claim that Chief Illiniwek is offensive, and they're not the only ones.  Even the NCAA declared that the mascot represented American Indian imagery in a "hostile and abusive" manner, which led them to enforce sanctions that shut down U of I's postseason. On the other...Read Full Story

The University of Illinois retired its longtime mascot, Chief Illiniwek, in March because the symbol was offensive to some American Indians. Some Illini fans are still none too happy with this development. Tom Heinrich of Dwight, Ill., decided not to let the memory of Chief Illiniwek perish. He had an old elm tree trunk in his front yard carved into the likeness of the dancing Indian mascot and added these words: “The Chief Forever,” reports the Kankakee Daily Journal. The statue is not a...Read Full Story

If you want to read about the latest news involving the Chief Illiniwek controversy - YOU WILL NOT FIND IT on the News Gazette this morning. Take that, RM, with your flying-off-the-handle way of dealing with me. Will they dare NOT pick up this story from the news wire, for news in their back yard, when they can't get at the sources until next Wednesday?Read Full Story