Tribal regalia on parade at many Montana graduations

Tribal regalia on parade at many Montana graduations

By Clara Caufield, NSNT Correspondent

 

May is graduation month.  On and near the Montana reservations and off reservation schools and colleges, many tribal graduates are opting to celebrate the milestone ceremonies by wearing beautifully beaded graduation caps, tribal dresses, moccasins, feathers etc., a colorful statement of pride for tribal heritage.

This right is guaranteed in Montana due to P.L. 2-1-315 which protects the right to wear tribal regalia and cultural objects at Montana High School graduations.  That bill, enacted in 2017 was originally sponsored by Senator Jen Gross, MT S from Billings, then strongly endorsed by the Montana Legislative Indian Caucus, such as Jason Small, Northern Cheyenne, SD 21: Representative Sharon Peregoy, Crow (with 22 years of legislative service under her belt); Representative Jonothan Windy Boy, Chippewa-Cree (more than two decades of legislative service); the Montana State Indian Affairs Committee and other good hearted legislatures.

“There was a problem and we had to address it,” Small said.  He also mentioned that despite enactment of that Montana law, it was not uniformly observed by some schools in Montana.  “I think that on the Flathead Reservation, some schools are not following the letter of the law,” he noted.

Thus, several members of the Montana Indian Legislative Caucus met with the Montana High School Association to underscore the intent and purpose of the Indian Regalia Act. “They were receptive, he noted, “but each local school board in Montana is responsible for following through.”

As Peregoy explained: “We had heard many stories about bias against Native students who wanted to demonstrate their pride and heritage at graduation – truly a milestone ceremony.  Ironically, it was better to have a non-Indian carry the bill. She was happy to do so, having heard many concerns from the Billings native students, denied the opportunity to express themselves during graduation ceremonies.”

Recently, the Native Western Voice organization reminded Native students and families about this law, asking that concerns about this matter, still on-going in parts of Montana, be shared so that Native advocacy groups could mount a challenge of any violations.

The wearing of traditional regalia at graduation ceremonies now underscored by State law, has not always been so.  For example, Shawnee Realbird, enrolled member of the Crow Tribe had trouble with that when graduating from the Red Lodge High School in 2018.  Red Lodge, ironically is named after a band of Crow Indians who traditionally occupied that country in pre-reservation days, noted for their “red” lodges.

As the sole native graduate, Shawnee’s grandparents, Alma and Henry Realbird attended, bringing a blessed eagle feather to attach to her graduation cap and special moccasins, made at great labor.  The school officials denied both the eagle feather and the moccasins, however at the last minute when the graduates were in line, Shawnee’s mother, Jerilynn Harris, quickly dashed up and tied the eagle feather into Shawnees long thick braid.  “It was too late for then to interrupt the march, so we got away with it,” Harris giggles in memory.

“This is high honor for our young ones, truly a ceremony,” Harris noted. “We should be allowed to acknowledge that in our tribal ways.”

Veteran Montana legislator, Jonathon Windy Boy, Rocky Boy, commented: “I supported it. It is unfortunate that we must pass laws like this just to support and protect those who want to express their born right. It was just the way our people dressed.  For us to have to pass a State Law to enable that is ludicrous.  It should not have come down to it.  Montana is way ahead of the game in terms of advancements on legislation that supports Indian rights.  Other Tribes in other states look at us for direction.  Now other states have passed similar legislation.”

Congratulations to all the tribal graduates, from kindergarten to middle school “advancement” to high school graduates, college graduates and achievers at the masters and doctorate levels.  Wear your tribal regalia. Stand proud. You are the shining future of tribal people.

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com.)

 

The post Tribal regalia on parade at many Montana graduations first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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