14 Facts About Chief Illiniwek

Chief Illiniwek was portrayed by a student to represent the Illiniwek, the state's namesake, although the regalia worn was from the Sioux.

The student portraying Chief Illiniwek performed during halftime of Illinois football and basketball games, as well as during women's volleyball matches.

In 2005, Chief Illiniwek was one of 19 mascots cited as "hostile or abusive" by the NCAA in a policy that banned schools from full participation in postseason activities as long as they continued to use such mascots.

Chief Illiniwek is not based on an actual American Indian chief, nor did a historical figure with this name ever exist.

Since he performed many of the functions of other schools' mascots, Chief Illiniwek is generally referred to as the university's mascot in media reporting and academic sources regarding the controversy.

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Chief Illiniwek predates the use of mascots by most sports teams, adding strength to the claim that the portrayal was never a mascot at all.

The expression Chief Illiniwek was first used in conjunction with the University of Illinois football team by football coach Bob Zuppke, referring to the Illinois Confederation of Native Americans who historically had inhabited much of present-day Illinois.

Chief Illiniwek visited the campus in 1982 to present the regalia during halftime of a football game at the request of then-Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands Gary Smith.

The costume contained real eagle feathers, but because eagle feathers are sacred to Native Americans, and because they came from a species protected by the Lacey Act of 1900, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Act, and at that time the Endangered Species Act, the feathers in the headdresses worn by the Chief Illiniwek were replaced with dyed turkey feathers after requests from the family of Chief Illiniwek Fools Crow.

Chief Illiniwek appeared at the University's homecoming parade and pep rally until 1991.

Those in favor of retiring the Chief Illiniwek contended that the Chief Illiniwek misappropriates and misrepresents Native American culture and perpetuates harmful racial and ethnic stereotypes.

In May 2010 the Students for Chief Organization chose a new student to serve as the 38th chief portrayer: Ivan A Dozier, who is of Cherokee ancestry.

Chief Illiniwek appeared in regalia at numerous sporting events throughout the years.

In October 2012, the Chief Illiniwek made an unsanctioned halftime appearance at Memorial stadium, in the Homecoming football game against Indiana.