As former coach of the University of Illinois' Fighting Illini men's basketball team, Bill Self knows all about the controversy regarding the use of American Indian names as college mascots.
Dressed in Indian headdress, The U of I's "Chief Illiniwek" performed a traditional dance at select games.
"The Chief at Illinois was thought of to be the symbol of the university, and there was a great history and tradition behind that," Kansas University coach Self said Friday, the same day the NCAA decided to ban American Indian words, images and mascots from postseason tournaments.
"The different chiefs throughout time had to uphold a strict code on behavior and study the tradition and history of what that (chief) stands for. It was done in a respectful manner, but it was still controversial.
"I always thought they handled it in a very respectful manner. I could also certainly understand how some would feel about that. Most, I think, is not done with poor intentions, but some of it may be done in poor taste, so it is probably a good rule."
Self's official stance on the mascot during his three years at Illinois? "I was neutral on it," he said. "I was a big fan of the Chief, but I could certainly understand how some would be opposed."
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John1945 (anonymous) says…
It's probably appropriate. When these names were chosen they were to honor brave and courageous warriors. Unfortunately, the decendants of those brave warriors have become a pack of whining sissies.
kcwarpony (anonymous) says…
You want to honor American Indians? Then write to your government officials and demand that this country fulfill it's treaty obligations.
Demand a full accounting of the Individual Indian Monies Trust Fund Account. How would you like it if you had a trust fund and the party responsible for the accounting couldn't show/prove to you how much was suppose to be in it?
Stop digging up our ancestors for "scientific research". Tell me, where is our grandmother buried? I just want to dig her up, dust her off and see what I can learn from her.
Demand that the Boy Scouts of America stop trivializing our sacred ceremonies and rituals. It demeans a race of people and teaches the children incorrect information about us.
Don't calls us a "pack of whining sissies". First of all, we are people, only animals run in packs. Second, if the above problems didn't exist, we would have fewer reasons to whine. And third, if you had ever lived on the rez, you would know that we are no sissies!
It seems respect is still too much to ask for.