CA students who are still struggling to wear tribal graduates

From Carolyn JonesCalmness

This story was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

Eight years ago, California passed a law that requires high schools to allow students to wear an eagle feathers, Abalon necklaces and other diplomas regalia.

But so many schools – more than half, one assessment – have thrown obstacles to perform the law This MP returned the issue in the legislature.

“It is very disappointing that even after that time, some areas are still not compatible,” said the Assembly James Ramos, Democrat from San Bernardino, who sponsors the current bill. “We hope this bill will reach us where we must be.”

He was on Ramos, AB 1369It eliminates the preliminary approval process of students who want to carry any type of cultural regalia in graduates, Indians or otherwise. Fifty -six percent of high schools allow students to wear regalia, but only if they receive a preliminary permission, sometimes weeks before the ceremony, according to 2024. exploration from the US Union for Civil Liberties and the Indian Legal Services of California.

Schools say they need a preliminary approval process-for all students, not just for students from Indians-because they want to ensure that completion of graduation are respectful and appropriate. Students from other environments also occasionally choose jewelry, such as towels in Kente, and must undergo the same process of approval.

The bill that has passed the Assembly and is now making its way through the Senate is applied to every form of cultural regalia, although its definition of “cultural” is unclear: “Cultural means recognized practices and traditions of a particular group of people.” This ambiguity is why a preliminary approval process is needed, some school districts say.

Local students, their families and tribes say that it should be their solution to what is the right tribal clothing, not the school neighborhood. They also say that the approval process is too far before the ceremony; Often students receive their regals on the day of the event, sometimes as a gift from a grandparents or tribal elder. Displaying graduation is not certain whether you will be allowed to wear a coveted piece of regali, it can be nervously destroying and disturbing, local students said.

“Proud to be born”

Jenny Rosha, a freshman at Oregon State University, said she was nervous last year when she arrived at her graduation ceremony at Clovis North High, carrying a stolen command that the school initially refused.

The steal provided by the tribal plant in Oklahoma was inscribed with “We People” in English and a command. When Rosha first applied for approval for his wearing, she was refused. But after her father complained to the school board and local media, the school announced, the school gave approval.

“I wanted to wear it because I feel that all I have is because of a command. I couldn’t go to college without their support,” Rosha said. “I’m proud to have been born and wanted to show it.”

Although there may have been a delay and initial refusals, Clovis Unified did not stop a student from wearing cultural decorations when graduating, said Kelly Avali spokesman. The area is from the approval process as a way of minimizing interruptions on the day of graduation and disposal of potentially offensive ornaments.

If you do not have a process of approval, it “creates an extremely vulnerable position for school districts and prevents the staff’s ability to protect students from the trauma that comes from the appropriation of a culture, or a situation where someone who intends to mock or harm a race or culture is able to do it because school administrators are not right.”

In the case of Rosha, the area initially denied the application, as the staff was not clear about the personal elements of stealing and wanted to consult with the tribal leaders of a command, Avalli said. This caused a delay before the area eventually approves the stolen, she said.

The Association of School Administrators in California did not take a position on the Ramos account, but their lawyers apparently agree with the position of Klovis.

“The areas should have some parameters, otherwise you will find yourself free for everyone at night of graduation,” said lawyer Sloan Simmons in April podcast Advice of state school administrators. “This is the only rational way to deal with this.”

The California Department of Education set up a working group to study the problem. The working group had to create a legislature report until April 2023, but it is not yet. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education advises school districts to consult local tribes if they decide to have a pre -approval process for Regalia.

Trump’s anti-dot orders

Another potential barrier to graduation is President Donald Trump’s announcement in February that the federal government would refuse school funding In areas that have a variety policy and programs, mentioning more special graduation ceremonies. Judge temporarily blocks the order last month, saying it was too unclear and California filed a case To suspend the order.

Meanwhile, confusion continues to any school policy that devotes or gives a special attitude to a particular ethnic group.

Heather Hostler, CEO of the California Indian legal services and a member of the Hoopa Valley tribe in Humboldt County, said he was not worried about Ramos’s bill to oppose Trump’s order, as the recognized tribes were sovereign nations over which the Federal Government has no authority.

Pressing the tribal regals began as a way to direct the achievements of local students, whose graduation rate – 80% – lags behind the average for the state 87%. This is also a way to strengthen the native culture by raising awareness and giving something from the local communities to gather around, Ramos said.

“When someone finishes, it’s a big deal,” Ramos said. “The whole tribal community is gathering. It makes sense that you will be gifted for your achievement.”

Discrimination

Other recent laws, many Ramos, also relate to the treatment of indigenous Americans in K-12 schools. A law prohibited Talismans from IndiansS Other Updated the history curriculum To include the genocide of local Californians.

These laws aim to help turn over more than a century of discrimination against local students in California schools, said Morning Star Gali, founder and executive director of indigenous justice, advocacy group.

Until the 70s of the last century, many local young people were sent to the boarding schools, where they were forced to abandon their language and culture. The history curriculum is often shining the mission and the gold tide era when the local tribes suffered devastating losses.

In the light of this, wearing tribal regalia of graduation “should not be a controversial issue,” Gali said. “Our young people deserve to walk with dignity and pride. To deny them that it is a continuous form of cultural destruction.”

Ethan Molina, a senior at the Clovis West High School and a member of the Pascua Yaqui tribe, received district approval to carry an eagle feather on his graduation horoser next month. The pen was a gift with a recent Powwow.

But he was not allowed to carry wings embroidered by his aunt for the case. The wing reads “Class of 2025”, sewn in Bordeaux, blue, orange and red, significant colors for the tribe.

“I was confused,” Molina said. “It’s not political or something. I didn’t really understand why they would deny it.”

His mother complained in the area and they were waiting to hear an answer. Meanwhile, Molina is simply impatient to finish.

“I’m happy to wear the eagle feather,” he said. “But I’m also quite excited about leaving school.”

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.