ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, ʃiː ɹɪˈæktᵻd stɹˈɔŋli tə ðə pɚfˈoːɹməns əvə sˈuːdoʊnˈeɪɾɪv ɐmˈɛɹɪkən dˈæns baɪ ɐ jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən ɐmˈɛɹɪkən stˈuːdənt poːɹtɹˈeɪɪŋ "tʃˈiːf ɪlˈɪnɪwˌɛk" æɾə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi bˈæskɪtbˌɔːl ɡˈeɪm ænd sˈuːn ˈæftɚ bɪɡˈæn tə pɹətˈɛst sˈaɪləntli aʊtsˈaɪd æθlˈɛɾɪk ᵻvˈɛnts wˌaɪl hˈoʊldɪŋ ɐ smˈɔːl sˈaɪn ɹˈiːdɪŋ "ˈɪndiənz ɑːɹ hjˈuːmən bˈiːɪŋz."
In 1989, she reacted strongly to the performance of a pseudo-Native American dance by a European American student portraying "Chief Illiniwek" at a university basketball game and soon after began to protest silently outside athletic events while holding a small sign reading "Indians are human beings."