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Schools are coming to end across the U.S. and graduating Native high school students who want to wear tribal regalia at their ceremonies, in many cases are not allowed to.
In California, a law protects the right to wear tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies.
Christina Aanestad reports.
California’s first Native American lawmaker, State Rep. James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla/D-CA), is reminding the near 1,000 school districts and 9,000 schools across the state to respect Native students’ rights to wear tribal regalia at their graduation ceremonies.
“We urge local school administrators to know the law and respect the rights of our Native American students and to celebrate with them and to honor then and allowing them to move forward with their constitutional right to wear tribal regalia.”
His statement comes after Jessica Lopez, former chair of the Konkow Valley Band of Maidu Indians, said she had to argue with school district officials about her son’s right to wear regalia at his graduation.
California lawmakers passed legislation in 2018, allowing tribal regalia, in most cases, at graduation ceremonies.
In 2021, they passed another bill, to establish a task force educating school districts about the legislation giving students that right, but some districts still are unaware.
A Cochiti Pueblo artist opened a new exhibit in Colorado called Virgil Ortiz Revolt 1680/2180: Runners and Gliders.
It looks at the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 in a futuristic light.
In part two of her special series, Emma VandenEinde of the Mountain West News Bureau shows how it’s made an impact on visitors.
The exhibit opened to the public this month. Jeremy Morton with History Colorado says this is unlike anything the museum’s done before, pushing the boundaries of how history can be taught.
“Someone who is maybe not a history person, maybe not a history buff, is able to look at this exhibit and create this association of, wow. I didn’t realize history could be told in this unique, interesting sort of cool way.”
It’s left an impact on some visitors like Heider Tun, a college history professor in Denver.
He’s Yucatec Maya and he says he struggles to remind himself that his people are still here.
“I think this exhibition brings this idea that we are not just here, but that we are modern, we are part of the future as well.”
Kat Lovato, who’s part Jicarilla Apache, also came to see the exhibit.
She came dressed to the event in traditional regalia.
“Everything that Virgil does, that has an emphasis on the Indigenous population in the wars and everything, it matters to us.”
She hopes exhibits like these educate people about Indigenous history.
People like Emmaline Cheroutes, her 8 year-old granddaughter.
“I love learning about our family’s history…and people need to know.”
Virgil Ortiz, the lead artist of the exhibit, agrees.
“Every time the people talk about indigenous people, it’s like in the past, right? … I just want them to acknowledge and know that we’re still here, living and thriving, creating.”
He hopes that other Indigenous communities can join him in his mission to highlight their prevalence – in Colorado and throughout the Mountain West.
“I really want them to come speak up and tell their history, all of their ancestors, and be acknowledged of how we’re all still here together.”
Virgil Ortiz Revolt 1680/2180: Runners and Gliders is on display at History Colorado until next May.
Suzan Shown Harjo was one of five people to receive an honorary degree from Princeton University on Tuesday during its 2023 commencement ceremony.
The advocate, poet, and president of the Morning Star Institute was honored for her lifelong work advocating for Native rights.
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