They can change the mascot but they will never erase the tradition if my people. AHO

This was a legitimate way of preserving and honoring native american (Sioux, in this case) culture and dance and integrating it into U.S. culture. The dance the mascot performs is an actual adaptation. It was even treated with utmost respect as you can plainly see in the video by the solemnness of the audience. I also heard there were rules, or at least discouragements, against making any sort of rude gesture toward the dance, such as booing or mocking. Aaand then it went and got canceled because... offensive?? Erasing any attempt at preserving native american culture only pulls their cultural identity into obscurity. That's how I see it at least.

wokeness..............

White people deemed this offensive to Native Americans. Us white people that did the most offensive things to Native Americans gonna tell them this is offensive

Such a heartwarming and respectful tribute to the people who lived in Illinois before us. Goosebumps. CHIEF.

Some of my most iconic memories as a child was watching Chief at basketball games and Football games! Long live Chief Illiniwek!! Ik the country was losing itself when they started taking Indian mascots away from teams all over

WE WANT CHEIF BACK

A SPECIAL To THE NOW DECEASED BIG EAR BOW-TIE WEARING SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS DOING THIS TRAVESTY

Biggest mistake Illinois ever made was getting rid of the Chief

Hilariously racist mascot, shameful it ever existed.

CHIEEEF

Miss the CHIEF!!! Bring back the CHIEF. What a great tradition to have lost.

This was such a great tradition........ruined by the "woke" who try real hard to be offended by everything.

Very Good! Thanks

Tears Hail to the Chief

Very cool. Something is sadly missing without the chief. Linda

For my beloved spouse who was an IIlini alumna who died on 1Nov 21. She loved the Chief and cried after this performance. The Chief's portrait is in my (our) den.

CHIEEEEEEEEEF

This is just the coolest thing. My dad went to U of I for a year before transferring to Northwestern. But he always talks about the Chief and the U of I Alma Mater. We have to quit allowing the tail to wag the dog. Taking away the Chief would be like ending our tradition at Tennessee of "Running Through the T." People would quit going to football games. Bring Back The Chief!

I attended Wisconsin but loved watching the Chief perform. One of the great college traditions. A shame it ended.

I miss The Chief...

They should bring this back as a halftime show. Something the crowd can watch in awe, not something to be put on display as a mascot.

I am wondering who was really opposed of The Cheif? Can we have a state referendum to bring him back?

Sad day for Illini nation Hail to the CHIEF !!!!

LONG LIVE CHEIF!

Thanks Liberals

Keep letting the communists take your culture.

I was there. It was absolutely devastating to lose our Chief. It was a beautiful tradition, not a racist mascot. The left ruins many great things for us.

The beloved Chief sold down the river, just like the state he represented. PC culture , Inbred liberals GTH!

During the late 60s, early 70s, i was a driver for the air force red cross. I drove many guys to these games and to see the chief do his many dances were exciteing times. His last dance was movieing and sad as that was his last dance. I say " bring him back ". The Illini need to be inspired again !!!! Chief, wherever you are, come back !! We love you !!

Biggest mistake Illinois ever made, bowing to NCAA and snow flake pressure. . I wonder how much Alumni donations they lost in the years following his retirement .. I bet some sensitive "white guy" was leading the charge too. This was the most respectful presentation I have ever saw. FSU has an Indian with flaming arrow but i guess that's OK . i'm 1/4 Cherokee i was not offended so why is everyone else

Chief is a symbol, not a mascot. All of the dances that chief does we’re approved by Native American tribes when they were introduced. The chief is not allowed to smile or talk when appearing. The illiniwek tribe were not killed off by white people, rather they were by the hands of the iriquois. This is far from racism.

Let erase all mention and history of native Americans. That will show those, oh, wait....

Great college tradition ruined by the few.

It's now been ten years since the heartwrenching and sneaky midnight decision by the Board of Trustees to remove the Chief, a decision made for money pressured by people who didn't understand the tradition and haven't been to even one game. They just preferred to slander the tradition and spew untruths to get their way. It was a sad day to see him go. And we still miss this proud Symbol of the University.

Visited a museum exhibit today on RACE. Glad to see that the "chief?" has been laid to rest.

this equals blackface

reason it is offensive its not native american guy dancing and that person dancing is dancing gymnastic moves not regular native american moves insulting indians also the costume as well

Long Live The Chief :)

what a shame the chief is gone. i guess some folks are not pleased no matter what you do . he looked like he was a crowd pleaser and would not have been judged harshly if this were at a pow wow open dance , you don't have to be federally reconized to hAve the spirit in you

엣헴엣헴! 나무위키에서 순례중인 씹선비오~ 엣헴엣헴!

I really don't even give a damn about chief illini, but this video has got me tearing up for some strange reason.

dat's racist. White man like you can't see it, but white man like me understood it!

The Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma are the closest living descendants of the Illiniwek Confederacy, having been relocated to Oklahoma in the 19th century. The position of the tribal leadership has evolved over the years. In a television interview with WICD-TV in 1995, Don Giles, then Chief of the Peoria Tribe, said, "To say that we are anything but proud to have these portrayals would be completely wrong. We are proud. We're proud that the University of Illinois, the flagship university of the state, a seat of learning, is drawing on that background of our having been there. And what more honor could they pay us?" Supporting Chief Giles was another tribal elder, Ron Froman, who stated that the protesters "don't speak for all Native Americans, and certainly not us.

Losing Illiniwek. Worst move ever. There was nothing like seeing that in person. Hail to the Chief!

Chief came to my grade school when I was in 1st grade. So , I was a racist huh ? At 6 years old ? Myopic racist liberal progressives !!! All that is progressive about your movement is equal hate for every single entity that does not subscribe to your hateful & very selfish view.

HE IS GOING TO COMEBACK!!! BELIEVE ME, HE WONT BE FORGOTTEN, HE WILL ALWAYS BE IN YOUR HEARTS FOREVER, & GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. REAL TRADITION NEVER DISAPPEARS, NEVER DIES, ITS ALWAYS THERE.

Chief has to leave but Osceola gets to stay? Mmkay. Don't see anyone getting on the soapbox about how the Notre Dame Leprechaun misrepresents Irish people. It's because they're white right so they aren't allowed to be offended?

How was the chief chosen?

I will openly say, as a Buckeye fan, HAIL TO THE CHIEF!