In 2018, University of Illinois Chancellor Robert Jones convened a commission tasked with "finding a path forward" in the post Chief Illiniwek era. This commission was asked to address four specific charges.

This alumni and fan-supported proposal addresses two of the four charges, specifically:

• "How to facilitate the establishment of new traditions".
• "How to honor and partner with the Native Nations for whom Illinois is their ancestral home".

Our group has asked members of these exact Tribal Nations for their input, and they have told us that on-field recognition during Native American Heritage Month combined with fundraising for Native American scholarships is how to honor and partner with them.

Many of these Tribal Nations have participated in pre-game ceremonies at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, which for several years has featured a presentation of Tribal Nation flags and a Native American color guard prior to the playing of the national anthem. Because Fighting Illini athletics has historically associated with veterans and Native heritage, we are suggesting that the annual military appreciation game be expanded to recognize Native Nations as both Veterans Day and Native American Heritage Month is during the month of November.

• Native American Color Guard
  (See KC Chiefs Native American Heritage Month game example)

• Singing of the National Anthem by a Native American tribal member
  (See KC Chiefs Native American Heritage Month game example)

• Flag presentation of our ancestral Tribal Nations
  (See KC Chiefs Native American Heritage Month game example)

*Note:   We are already doing these presentations during the current pre-game ceremony, our proposal simply includes and recognizes our Tribal Nations along with our veterans.

The Native American community has emphatically spoken - the way for sports teams and educational institutions to honor Native American heritage is through authentic cultural celebrations on their grandest stages of athletics.

I am an enrolled member of the Peoria Tribe of Indians, the remnant tribe from the original Confederation of Illinois tribes often referred to as "Illini." I am also the first member of my tribe to enroll as a student at the University of Illinois using the UIUC Heritage Scholarship. As a current online student, I'm proud of the association of military veterans and the Illini tribes to Fighting Illini athletics. I fully endorse this proposal for an annual tribute to veterans and tribal heritage at Illinois.

As the former CEO of the Alumni Association from 1967 to 1984, I was keenly aware of our incredible Fighting Illini Tradition. I found that the vast majority of Illinois Alumni indeed love, appreciate and revere our rich Native American and War Veteran Heritage and their connection to Fighting Illini Athletics. I hope you all take the time to study the volume of historical material presented here. I therefore enthusiastically endorse this website and hope you will sign the online petition in support of this new tradition for Illinois fans and Alums. Thank you.

I am part of the largest segment of the stakeholder community-- the fans. Although I never went to the U of I, I faithfully watch the games, buy the tickets and merchandise, and love the Fighting Illini teams and traditions as much as anyone.

During the many years of the most heated protests against the Chief by a tiny minority, each successive administration actually fought to keep our Native American traditions; not because administrators were politically conservative or had any personal affinity for the Chief, but because they respected the will of the majority. In the post Chief era, each administration has thumbed their noses at the majority in favor of kowtowing to the tiniest, most radical segments of the stakeholder community who care the least about the Fighting Illini teams and traditions. NOW is the moment we have been waiting for to rise up and unify our voices in demand of a return to majority rule.

Class of 1980. I played for the Illini under the legendary coach Lou Henson. I revere our great Illini heritage and wholly support this effort to save the Illini tradition.

From the Chancellor's website dating back to 2016, "But that’s what great universities are supposed to be doing. We solve problems the rest of the world doesn’t even want to acknowledge exist.

And the only way we have been able to do that for 150 years and the only way we will be able to do it for the next 150 years, is if we have every single perspective and every single idea on the table.

Diversity and inclusive excellence aren’t about leaving people or viewpoints behind – they are about bringing them all together in one place and at one time." - Source

Chancellor Robert Jones From a February 25, 2017 article in the News Gazette, "We clearly need to come up with a process that will lead to some new tradition that hopefully the majority of us can get behind."

"At the end of the day, I think what we're talking about is some new tradition that the alums can get their arms around and provide a different opportunity to have some identity with the university." - Source

From a September 13, 2018 article in the News Gazette, "It does represent for us one of our best opportunities to move beyond this really decisive issue, to find a place where we can truly honor Native American Heritage and culture, as well as provide an opportunity to really engage with our alumni in a much more effective way around this issue."

From a December 17, 2018 article in the Daily Illini, commission co-chairman, Eric Jolly said, "We are going to hopefully provide a guided path and not a solution; the solution belongs in the hands of the students, fans, and alumni." - Source

In Native culture, the medicine wheel (shown above) and the four colors in the center (black, red, yellow, white) represent concepts such as the 4 directions, 4 seasons and the sacred path of both the sun and human beings.

In Native culture when a gift is given, it is customary to give a gift in return, so we have organized 4 levels of giving with authentic, hand-made Native American art from the Dakota Drum Etsy shop, as a gift in return for your generosity in supporting our cause.

With a gift of $10 or greater, you will receive a window sticker and entry into a drawing for a $500+ medicine wheel drum on Etsy (pictured above).

You will receive a window sticker, entry into the medicine wheel drum drawing, and an item of your choice from the Etsy shop priced $65-$140.

You will receive a window sticker, entry into the medicine wheel drum drawing, and an item of your choice from the Etsy shop priced $195-$285.

You will receive a window sticker, entry into the medicine wheel drum drawing, and an item of your choice from the Etsy shop priced $365-$590.

*NOTE:  After you submit your donation amount, you will be redirected to page where you can send us your item request from the Etsy shop as a gift in return for your generosity. All donations are tax deductible.

To contact us with any questions or comments, please reach out to us by emailing info@illinitradition.com

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