Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The United Methodist Church, one of the largest religious organizations in the United States with a membership exceeding 8 million, has been a strong voice against invidious racial discrimination, including that directed at American Indians. Through its resolution passed in 1998 that stated, “The United Methodist Church on repeated occasions has denounced the continued use of Native American imagery as nicknames for sports teams as racist and dehumanizing,” the Church has aligned itself with organizations throughout the country that work to end the use of race-based mascots as symbols of sports teams. The United Methodist Book of Resolutions condemns the use of racially oriented human logos and mascots by sports teams and calls upon those empowered to cease this practice of blatant racism.

Consistent with this position, the United Methodist Church National Commission on Religion and Race recently announced the award of a $10,000 grant to the Illinois Chapter of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media (NCRSM-IL). Cyd Crue, President of NCRSM-IL, was delighted with the news. "It will provide a much needed financial base to help us bring an end to the use of Chief Illiniwek and Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign."

Crue, a doctoral student in sociology at the University, and mother of a 13 year old Shoshone-Bannock son, has been trying to convince the University of the dishonor it does to themselves and to Native Americans by the continued use of its mascot. "The University has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in their attempt to keep their fake chief," said Crue. "It's interesting to note that the United Methodist Church is one of many national religious and secular organizations that have urged the University to find a new symbol, while not a single church supports their racist mascot. In contrast, the University appears to be aligning itself with those organizations that perpetuate hate and racism in this country.”

“We are truly grateful to the Church for their support,” said Crue. "Convincing the University Trustees is more costly than anyone could have imagined. I can't believe this abuse still goes on. You'd think they would have gotten the message by now.” Others interested in working with or supporting NCRSM-IL can contact Crue by email: ncrsm-il@home.com.

"Never again will we allow unflattering and stereotypical images of Indian people to deface the halls of government or lead the American people to shallow and ignorant beliefs about Indians. Never again will we attack your religions, your languages, your rituals, or any of your tribal ways." Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Department of the Interior, September 8, 2000.