Protecting Indigenous Students' Right to Wear Tribal Regalia

Policies that strip Indigenous students of their cultural and religious heritage in the name of assimilation only compound the violence and oppression that these students and their communities have suffered.

Graduation is a time of celebration and community. After centuries of attempted genocide and erasure of Indigenous culture and tradition, the ability to celebrate commencement in a culturally appropriate way is deeply important for Indigenous students. Tribal regalia worn at commencement are a symbol of resistance, resilience, and reclamation by students of their right to an education that honors their culture and heritage. But for some Indigenous students, graduation can be fraught with uncertainty or controversy over their ability to wear tribal regalia during commencement ceremonies. Some schools still prohibit Indigenous students from wearing items at graduation, claiming that it would violate the school’s dress code and speculating, without any basis, that it would disrupt the ceremony. 

Indigenous Students on Why Wearing Their Tribal Regalia at Graduation is Important

Whether an eagle feather or plume, beadwork, sealskin cap, moccasins, or other forms of traditional dress, tribal regalia plays a unique role, spiritually and culturally, for graduating Indigenous students. Policies that strip Indigenous students of their cultural and religious heritage in the name of assimilation only compound the violence and oppression that these students and their communities have suffered. As a result, Indigenous students face disproportionate outcomes across a range of educational statistics, including higher rates of exclusionary discipline and lower graduation rates. Due to the history of abuse of Indigenous students in schools, the government has a special obligation to address ongoing deprivations of Indigenous students’ educational and expressive rights.

Know Your Rights: Tribal Regalia

Know Your Rights While Wearing Tribal Regalia at School

We have listed below ways to defend your rights to wear tribal regalia.

Know Your Rights Tribal Regalia

Graduation from high school is a pivotal, once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Many Indigenous students cannot fully celebrate this achievement, from both a spiritual and cultural perspective, unless they are permitted to wear their ceremonial tribal regalia (for example, an eagle feather or beadwork on their graduation cap) during the event. Some schools have prohibited Indigenous students from wearing these items at graduation, claiming that it would violate the school’s dress code and speculating, without any basis, that it would disrupt the ceremony. However, there are various state and federal laws that protect public school students’ rights to wear tribal regalia during commencement. 

SHARE YOUR STORY: TRIBAL REGALIA AT GRADUATION

If your school is refusing to let you wear tribal regalia at graduation, let us know.

Tribal regalia at graduation image

Graduation is an especially meaningful time for many Indigenous communities. Because of the legacy of education as a tool of genocide and assimilation, schools are still often unwelcoming places for Indigenous students. As a result, Indigenous students face disproportionate outcomes across a range of educational statistics, including higher rates of exclusionary discipline and lower graduation rates. For students and communities who are able to overcome these barriers to academic success, commencement is a time for the entire community to celebrate. Indigenous students should be able to celebrate their graduation while remaining true to their cultural and religious heritage.