Honoring Culture at Graduation
Graduation is a monumental milestone, a celebration of years of hard work, growth, and dedication. For many Indigenous students, the ceremony isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s an opportunity to honor their ancestors, their heritage, and their identity. Wearing traditional items such as eagle feathers, beaded capes, or other pieces of tribal regalia is a deeply spiritual act that carries cultural meaning. Yet, students have been barred from participating in their own graduation ceremonies if they express their culture in this way; but no more.
The right to wear tribal regalia at graduation intersects with several legal protections. Through the United States, these protections are found most notably in the First Amendment right to free speech and religious freedom. The Washington Legislature has gone a step further and enacted legislation which specifically protects students that wear their tribal regalia at graduation. The Right to Tribal Regalia Act states very clearly public schools may not prohibit members of federally recognized tribes from wearing traditional tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies. This act supplements Washington’s already robust religious protections under the Washington Law Against Discrimination which apply to public schools.
Some school administrators have expressed concerns that allowing tribal regalia could lead to requests for other non-traditional attire, potentially disrupting the uniformity of the ceremony. However, it is important to distinguish between items of cultural or religious significance and those that are purely decorative. Tribal regalia is not worn for fashion; it is worn to honor culture and tradition. Denying students the right to wear tribal regalia at graduation is a form of cultural erasure, undermining their identity and the significance of their cultural traditions.
Graduation is about celebrating achievements and looking forward to the future. For Indigenous students, wearing tribal regalia is a vital part of that celebration. It is a personal, cultural, and spiritual statement. By guaranteeing students’ rights to express their heritage, Washington law ensures graduation is a truly inclusive celebration of all students and the rich diversity they represent.