The term "Illini" refers to the Native American tribes that originally inhabited the region now known as Illinois. The name is derived from the Illinois tribe, which was part of a larger group of tribes in the Algonquian language family. The Illini people were known for their agricultural practices and lived in villages along rivers. In modern times, "Illini" is also associated with the University of Illinois, whose sports teams are called the Fighting Illini. The university embraces the heritage of the Illini tribes, and the mascot, Chief Illiniwek, was used until 2007 to honor this history, although it has been a subject of controversy.