The following transcript is from the 4/14/00 Chief Illiniwek dialogue "intake session". It is an unedited excerpt from the original U.I. document.

I am here to tell you that Chief Illiniwek is painful and dehumanizing to my people. It hurts to see Illinois sports fans all over the community desecrate my religion by wearing turkey feathers that mock my sacred eagle feathers. The University band mocks our sacred drum with a Hollywood imitation of our music while band members wave horns up and down like a tomahawk chop while the opposing teams yell racial slurs about my people. It hurts to see fans paint their faces in mockery of my sacred ceremonies.

Eagle feathers and paint are spiritual items I must earn and take care of in a prayerful way. You don't just buy them, you don't just decide to wear them, you must earn them. My regalia is sacred. I don't wear it down the street or to a sporting event. I only wear my regalia in a circle that has been blessed by a medicine man. The Illinois symbol wears the Lakota regalia, but to him it's like a costume, like Halloween. He has no right to wear this regalia at all. Only a very respected plains Chief would wear such a headdress. Chiefs are religious and spiritual leaders who we honor. We do not use their images as entertainment.

I am here to tell you it hurts. Because of the University of Illinois, I must sit in school and see my friends wear clothing with inaccurate images of my people. It takes me -- it makes me feel sick inside. Chief Illiniwek is all the kids at school know about my people. They don't understand what a real Indian is. They don't know what the significance of our religion. His image spreads misinformation about my people.

It is often all of the teacher's knowledge. I had a teacher that told me that Chief Illiniwek was more famous and a better role model than Jim Thorpe. That was like a slap in the face. You say I should be honored because you admire me, but what responsibility for the welfare of my people, do you take, for the welfare of Native children.

Is it an honor to put my culture and spiritual images on floor mats, seat cushions, underwear, port-a-potties, toilet paper, meat packing, beer mugs or shot glasses. When you use my religious and cultural items for fun, it's like I don't exist. I am here to tell you that Native people are still here. We are athletes, businessmen and women, doctors, lawyers and members of the community.

I demand the same respect for my religion and culture that you have for yours. To adore mythical images of us or to ridicule us is the same. If you honor us, if you care about us, let our image go. Remove Illiniwek for the sake of the children, for the sake of my people. "Oos." And if Chief Illiniwek wants to be a clown, he should join the circus.

See the U.I. Dialogue on Chief Illiniwek page for more transcripts and information.