[Peace-discuss] American Indian vigil

[Lisa Chason]

>
****************************************************************************
>
> For immediate release
>
> Let's take a Stand
>
> Native American Educational Services College (NAES College), along
> with Native American organizations in Champaign/Urbana, IL. have
> once again taken up the struggle that was started so long ago by our
> Indian people.
>
> The University of Illinois continues to degrade the American Indian
> by allowing the racist mascot, Chief Illiniwek to portray the Native
> American at half time shows during basketball and football home games.
> We at NAES College ask for your help in putting an end to the Chief. The
> Board of Trustees UI will be meeting on this issue at their March 11th
> meeting at the UI campus. It may be the final vote. Should they vote to
> retain the chief, then that is it. He will be their mascot forever. Should
> they decide to vote against the chief, then it will be over. A
> great victory for the Indigenous peoples of this land!
>
> The dilemma that we face is that the Board of Trustees UI are
> undecided as to which way to vote, and they say that the Indian people of
this
> land have never come out in great numbers to let their voice be heard. Yet
> the pro-chiefers always show up in huge numbers to show their support
> for keeping the chief. Their claim is that they honor the Indian. But
> it isn't about that; its about "it's their chief" and they can keep it
> if they damn well please. And who are we to meddle in their affairs! That
is
> the
> pompous attitude that they project.
>
> We organized a rally in Chicago on January 15th at the Board
> of Trustees meeting on the UIC campus, we had some 70 people show up.
After
> the
> rally we had a meeting at NAES College and came up with an itinerary
> for the March meeting, as follows.
>
> March 10th
>
> 12:00pm Prayers and/or pipe ceremonies for 1 hour
>
>  1:00pm Flag songs for 1 hour
>
>  2:00pm Press conference
>
>  3:00pm Dinner for all to be provided by the UIUC students
>
>  4:00pm Open mike for all to voice their opinion until 9:00pm
>
>  9:00pm Candlelight all night vigil with prayers, singing
> and storytelling
>
> March 11th
>
> 6:30am Breakfast provided by the UIUC students
>
> 7:30am Prayers
>
>  8:00am Flag songs
>
>  8:30am BOT members enter their meeting
>
> 11:00am Lunch provided by UIUC students, depart (hopefully with
> good news)
>
> The vigil will be held at the UI campus on the Quad, near the
> Native House
>
> Racist sports team names, logos and mascots have a direct
> negative effect on all of the Native American people. They create a
> hostile environment in which we have to try and survive. They are used to
make
> us
> look inferior to the dominant cultures. Racism is not only a black & white
> issue. Why does the dominant culture think that it is ok to make fun of
> the American Indian people? Let's take a stand! We as a people working
> together can make a difference.
>
> We are calling on Spiritual leaders from Indian Country, Medicine
> Men, Sacred Pipe Keepers, Pipe Carriers, Medicine Bundle holders,
> Sun Dancers to join and lead us at the opening ceremony. We need your help
to
> guide us and teach us how to suffer for the good of the people. We
> want true/real spiritual people, no fake shamen please, or anyone looking
to
> make
> a buck out of it.
>
> We are calling on all Tribes to send a representative to carry the
> flag of your Nation (Tribal Chairmen/women, princesses). Send your
> Eagle Feather Staff, Tribal Flag or Coup Stick. We are calling on all
singers
> from across Indian Country to bring your drums. The flags will be
> presented and posted during the entire vigil. It would really be
> something to hear all of the different Tribal flag songs or 100 drums
> singing together 1 flag song.
>
> The only way we can make a change is to come together in
> unity. Remember this is about and for the people. We can't help you to get
> here
> or make any promises, this is something that you have to want to do. It
> is something that we need to do, and if we don't, then we can't
> cry any more about the consequences that we as a people will suffer. If
> we allow them to continue to degrade us, then it is our fault.
>
> If you can make it to Chicago on your own, we will provide transportation
> to Champaign/Urbana on Wednesday morning, March 10th. We will
> be departing Chicago at 8:00am traveling in caravan fashion. Please join
> us. Let's band together to demand the respect that we, the original
> people deserve. Let's make a final stand.
>
> Please RSVP as soon as possible so that we can start making soup &
> frybread
>
> Leonard Malatare or Christine Red Cloud
> NAES College
> 2838 W. Peterson Ave.
> Chicago, IL 60659
> 773-761-5000
> lmalatare at central.naes.edu
> crnaes at yahoo.com
>
> Davis Wounded Eye
> 773-465-4793
> Norma Robertson
> 773-784-1050
>
> Assata Zerai
> Associate Professor
> Sociology Department
> Afro-American Studies and Research Program
> 326 Lincoln Hall, MC 454
> 702 South Wright Street
> University of Illinois
> Urbana, IL 61801
> 217-244-8074
>
>
>