CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Chancellor’s Commission on Native Imagery: Healing and Reconciliation begins its work today by holding its first meeting. Chancellor Robert Jones charged the group earlier this month after enlisting highly regarded higher education leader Eric Jolly to serve as convener and co-chair. Alumnus and former captain of the University of Illinois football team Stu Levenick also is serving as co-chair.
The Commission was recommended by the advisory committee that facilitated communitywide discussions about the use of Native imagery at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As described in the chancellor’s charge letter to the group, the Commission is “an informal, ad hoc working group, to serve as an important internal advisory resource for me and my leadership team as we consider how best to formulate policies and processes at the University of Illinois. We ask that you provide advice and recommendations about possible approaches to the bulleted questions below – before the end of next semester – so the Illinois family can move forward together to remember our history, explore new traditions and partner with Native Nations.”
The four areas the Commission will focus on are:
- A recommendation on how to provide closure, healing and reconciliation for stakeholders
- A recommendation on how to facilitate the establishment of new traditions
- A recommendation on how to remember the history of the Chief – with a focus on both the intent and impact of the tradition
- A recommendation on how to honor and partner with the Native Nations for whom Illinois is their ancestral home
The Commission will provide regular updates to the public on its work and will solicit stakeholder input at appropriate points throughout the process, which is expected to conclude with a written set of recommendations to Chancellor Jones before the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
Chancellor’s Commission on Native Imagery: Healing and Reconciliation
Nov. 29, 2018
Convener and Co-chair:
Eric J. Jolly, president and CEO of The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations
Co-chair:
Stu Levenick, alumnus/student-athlete, retired Caterpillar executive
Secretary to the Commission:
Isabel Molina-Guzman, professor of Latina/Latino studies and media and cinema studies and faculty director of diversity and inclusion for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Illinois
Members:
Ron Bess, alumnus/student-athlete, CEO of Merge advertising and technology agency
John Caughlin, professor and head of the department of communication at Illinois
Omar Cruz, student/portrayed Chief Illiniwek after its retirement in 2007
Ivan Dozier Sr., local activist, state conservationist with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert, professor and the director of American Indian Studies and professor of history at Illinois
Chief Craig Harper, leader of Peoria Nation
Jane Hays, alumna/member of College of Law Dean's Advisory Board, member of University High School Advisory Board
Patricia Holmes-Brown, alumna, former Trustee, attorney
Sheila Johnson, alumna/cheerleader, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Marty Kaufmann, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics/External Relations and Trademark Licensing at Illinois
Lauren Kirby, student/president of the Native American Indigenous Student Organization at Illinois
Dan Maloney, alumnus/last official portrayer of Chief Illiniwek, financial advisor for Edward Jones
Vikram Sardana, student/Illinois Student Government representative
Jamie Singson, alumnus/former director of Native American House and director of the Illini Union