Parents ask Grand Forks district to reconsider decision to prohibit Indigenous beadwork on graduation caps
May 24—GRAND FORKS — A group of parents are asking Grand Forks Public Schools to reconsider after they say district officials told Indigenous students they would not be allowed to wear traditional beadwork on their graduation caps.
District policy does not allow adornment of graduation caps, but since 2015, the district has given an accommodation that allows American Indian students to wear eagle feathers for their graduation ceremony. Although beadwork is not specifically allowed, in past years, students have worn it without issue, according to Courtney Davis, a parent in the district and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band.
Davis said the district's request left her confused.
"It felt like they're finally getting to a place where it was being understood and celebrated," said Davis, also a former Native American liaison for the district. "But now we've got to go back and suppress the students' ability to express their identity and their culture."
The district's Native American Parent Committee plans to meet Tuesday to discuss the issue with district officials.
Melissa Bakke, a spokesperson for the district, confirmed to the Grand Forks Herald that the graduates are expected to dress "in an appropriate manner," requiring cap, gown, tassel and shoes, and that "no other personal additions shall be allowed other than school-issued stoles of honor without prior permission of the administration."
"At Grand Forks Public Schools, we value all students, including the meaningful traditions of our Indigenous communities," Bakke said in a statement. "With that in mind, we are actively exploring how Grand Forks Public Schools can continue to honor and celebrate all students in meaningful and respectful ways. ... As we review our practices, including those related to graduation ceremonies, our focus is on maintaining the dignity and formality of the event while ensuring it reflects the values of our GFPS school community."
North Dakota Century Code says school districts may not establish a dress code that prohibits students from wearing traditional tribal regalia at graduation, and specifies that for the purposes of the law, regalia refers to an eagle feather or eagle plume.
The law is written to give districts local control, said Davis, who successfully pushed for the eagle feather accommodation in Grand Forks as a district employee more than 10 years ago. The state law followed in 2019.
Davis said she hasn't yet had a conversation with district officials about the issue, so she can't guess what the reason is for their decision on beadwork. In the past, those against allowing graduation cap decorations argued they could isolate or exclude some students, or could become disruptive.
Davis and others in favor argue that graduation rates for American Indian students in the district and state are low, and allowing graduates to wear traditional adornment is an important way to instill a sense of pride.
The district does offer an alternative graduation to celebrate the achievements of Indigenous students, Davis noted.
Davis and other parents have been encouraging people in the district to write letters of support to district officials ahead of the Tuesday meeting. She has also been in touch with the Native American Rights Fund, which helped her change the district policy in 2015.
She's hopeful for a positive conversation on Tuesday with district officials.
"I just want to make sure that people are conveying why it's important and significant, in a good way," she said.
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