In Whose Honor?

                The film In Whose Honor? Is a short documentary explaining why Chief Illiniwek is no longer UIUC’s mascot. This short film does a great job explain why the chief is no longer here. If anyone is interesting on this topic or wants to know why there’s so much controversy when it comes to the chief, then they must see this film. The film stars a young Native American woman, Charlene Teters, and goes into great detail as to why she protested against the chief. Many speak upon their feelings about the chief, so there’s both point of views being made. Those for the chief explain how the chief is the university’s symbol of honor and how they admire the chief, while those who are against the chief explain how Chief Illiniwek is degrading their culture. Many don’t understand why Native Americans take the chief as being an insult. They think that Native Americans should take Chief Illiniwek as a compliment in honor of their culture. Charlene Teters explains how Chief Illiniwek’s performance is “a religious practice being abused, not respected”. Another spokesperson says how the university is using Chief Illiniwek as a “Hollywood interpretation of honoring our culture”. There have been several debates, and many protests banning Chief Illiniwek. Not only do they discuss Chief Illiniwek, but also other Indian mascots. Native Americans feel as if their heritage and culture is being abused. They bring up great points about other cultures and how they’re not misrepresented, but theirs is. Many universities had Indians as their mascot, and they felt very strongly as to why they should keep them. After several years of protesting and a few other organizations coming together, Indian mascots were banned from Universities. Viewing this short film will give you more insight onto things that happened, and the abuse protestors had to face by standing up for what they believed in.

Source: In Whose Honor? Dir. Jay Rosenstein. New Day Films, 1997. Documentary.