[Peace] Re: [Peace-discuss] American Indian vigil

[Al Kagan]

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