> Who is Chief Illiniwek? Was/Is s/he a real person? A little more
> information on this "mascot" would help in writting a letter the
> governor would read.
>
> With respect, Wendy
O'siyo...
For many decades the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), the
"Fighting Illini", has had as its symbol/mascot a caricature, known as
Chief Illiniwek, of what the wasichu determined a male of the Illini nation
would have worn as his "ready to fight" outfit and of how he would have
performed his "war dance". For many decades there has been voiced, printed,
and demonstrated at local, state, national and international levels our
implacable, our deeply felt opposition to this practice. Yet, the
University's Board of Trustees has formally supported the continuance of
"Chief Illiniwek" as the school's symbol, and, most recently, state
representative Rick Winkel's bill to make the "Chief" the *legal* symbol of
the University. To directly answer your question, Wendy, "Chief Illiniwek"
is a fiction.
Nvwhtohiyada (peace) ...Brian (Agasgi)