Legislation would protect right to wear Native American cultural items at graduation

California Assembly members passed legislation today that would strengthen a current law that allows Native American students to wear cultural items at their high school graduations.

“Despite existing protections in state law, local school officials continue to object when students wish to wear items such as eagle feathers, sashes with basket designs, basket caps or beaded medallions during graduation ceremonies,” saidAssemblyman James Ramos, D-Highland, the author of Assembly Bill 945.

In 2018 legislators passed Assembly Bill 1248, which authorized a student to wear tribal regalia or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance at graduation ceremonies.

The new bill would require the California Department of Education to convene a task force to gather information from students who were denied the right to wear traditional tribal regalia or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance at school graduation ceremonies.

The task force will develop recommendations on how to best implement the law and submit a report with its findings by April 1, 2023.

“High school graduations are times of great celebration, especially in tribal communities because tribal kids have the lowest graduation rates of all ethnic groups,” Ramos said. “Our students have a 75.8 percent graduation rate, compared to the 84.3 percent statewide rate. Eagle feathers and other symbols of Native American significance are often presented by a proud community to the student as a way to recognize a personal achievement, It is a means for the tribe not only to honor the student but to share in and express pride in the graduate’s achievement.”

The Assembly bill must still be voted on by the Senate and signed by the governor before it becomes a law.