A highschool in New Mexico has apologized after a video went viral of employees confiscating the feathered commencement cap of a scholar earlier than its graduation ceremony.
Farmington highschool senior Genesis White Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, had embellished her commencement cap with conventional Lakota decorations together with beadwork and an aópazan, a white feather plume.
“That’s a part of our tradition, after we attain a milestone in our life, we as Lakotas beautify, do our beadwork and place our plume on them,” White Bull’s mom, Brenda White Bull, advised the Tri-Metropolis Document in an interview. “I don’t respect them taking her plume, taking her beaded hat. That’s all cultural.”
The viral video exhibits two employees members of the varsity in Farmington, New Mexico, taking the cap from White Bull whereas she was seated forward of her and her fellow college students’ commencement ceremony. She was handed a plain cap.
White Bull’s mom approached the employees members, who then lower the plume from the cap.
The varsity district initially defended the employees, stating in a put up on 16 Could: “Whereas the employees concerned have been following district pointers, we acknowledge this might have been dealt with in another way and higher. Shifting ahead, we are going to work to refine our processes on the college degree.”
A day later, the district issued an apology. “Farmington municipal faculties and Farmington highschool wish to apologize to the group, the coed, and her household, for the occasions at commencement involving the Native American regalia,” the district acknowledged in a press launch. “It’s clear that what occurred detracted from that and had the other impact.
“We’re assured that our employees meant no disrespect or to violate anybody’s cultural beliefs or practices. In a group like ours, we have to have a brand new dialog about significant methods to greatest have fun all of our graduates.”
The apology got here after public scrutiny, together with the council of the Navajo Nation condemning the motion by the varsity district.
The primary woman of the Navajo Nation mentioned in a assertion: “I’m deeply upset that this occurred at a faculty the place we’ve got many Navajo and Native graduates. I hope the varsity learns from this expertise and may take corrective measures.”
Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico’s governor, referred to as the motion by the district “unacceptable,” and the state’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter issued a press release supporting White Bull over the confiscation of her commencement cap.
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