[Peace-discuss] American Indian vigil
Al Kagan
akagan at uiuc.edu
Sun Feb 29 11:58:23 CST 2004
Since the vote has been cancelled, does anyone know if this activity
is still going to happen?
At 11:19 AM -0600 2/29/04, Lisa Chason wrote:
> >
>****************************************************************************
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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--
Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA
tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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