Eagle feathers banned for American Indian students
Darla (a new MMW guest contributor!)
According to a recent Associated Press article that ran on MSNBC.com, Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona, has banned their American Indian students from wearing eagle feathers on their graduation caps during their graduation ceremony.
The article also explains that the eagle feather is a rite-of-passage for many native youths from various communities upon completeion of graduation.
The Arizona Republic reports that the school’s reasoning was the feathers were disracting and that graduation was a time to honor the achievements of the whole class, rather than an “individual’s affiliation.”
I find it tragically funny that a government-run establishment is having a hard time allowing a group of American Indian students honor their “affiliation.” But what disturbed me the most was the school board president’s defense of the decision:
“The rule is not official district policy, but Elaine Miner, president of the Mesa School Board, said she supported the school rule. “We can honor those other cultural things at other events where it’s more customary,” Miner said.”
“Those other cultural things” comes off as flippant and dismissing to me, if not all-together degrading of the feather’s symbol of achievement. And by “other events” does she mean a pow wow? Because not every tribe and not every Indian, participates in pow wows, so while a ceremony at a pow wow may be nice, it also may not be “customary.”
I think the point is for these kids to be able to stand in front of their community, their peers, their teachers and coaches and say “I did this, and you helped. This is what it means to me and my family, Thank you.” It’s bad enough these students had to sit through the government-authorized version of their tribal history, but to rule that this defining and proud moment in their lives needs to be assimilated too? C’mon!
The school also apparently admitted they were afraid that the allowance of feathers would lead to other students insisting on wearing symbols of their own cultural affiliations— but what’s so bad about that? These students all earned the right to graduate on their own, why can’t they stand on their own at graduation? Surely a few basic guidelines for adorments can be compromised on.
According to www.greatschools.com, Westwood High boasts a population made up of 11 percent American Indian students, nearly twice the state-wide average of 6 percent. . .
The Arizona Republic reported earlier this week that school officals decided to allow the students to wear the feathers.
mtevc wrote:
have to part ways with you dear on this one, oh exalted board leader
this is a graduation about the whole, and it should be a unifying thing…the grad garb should be the same for all…that doesn’t deny the student their identity…this is a unifying thing, and they should all be dressed alike…should the graduation be about race and identity or about the school and its grads in general? so then everyone should wear something…kente cloth hood, or some other significant clothing to their race or ethnicity…it could seem like something small now, but what might you end up with???
Posted 31 May 2006 at 1:54 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:
i forgot to add…the problem with opening it up is this…i am not against identity and showing your heritage thru dress, but the problem here is the setting of standards…they will have to reach a compromise at some point on limits…and then, what will the limit be…you won’t be able to make everyone happy, so it would be better to deny it to everyone
Posted 31 May 2006 at 1:56 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:
Mesa, AZ is racist as hell!! [I have been to Mesa & have a friend born/raised there who has informed me of what life was like for her and her Mexican friends].
I’m disgusted by the disrespect and thinly veiled contempt shown by Ms. Miner. I’ve had 3 graduation ceremonies in my life. At all 3, someone somewhere was wearing some cultural acoutrement. In no way, shape or form did any expression of individuality diminish the solemnity and joy felt by the graduates. Give me a f-in break Board of Ed!! These are white people who would find any manifestation of cultural difference threatening. Genocide, marginalization = ok; feathers at high school graduation = NO!!!!
Posted 31 May 2006 at 2:22 pm ¶
Maria wrote:
I think banning feathers at school is ridiculous! Feathers are part of the Native American culture and the culture is part of who they are. They are NATIVE AMERICAN so they should be able to dress according to their culture.
I am part Native American, I live in New Zealand and have never been to the States. But growing up in NZ, I know the importance of aknowedging and respecting other cultures and the way they live.
New Zealand is made up of lots of different cultures. Maori (the native people of the country) only make up 3% of our entire population. Even so, they are still aknowledged and accepted as a people and our government and New Zealanders allow them to express their culture how they want.
For example,Maori is the second language in NZ and in every school across the country, Maori (Te Reo) language, culture and history can be chosen as subjects. The New Zealand rugby team do the traditional HAKA before every game and Maori students can wear Tikis ( traditional necklace to school). There are many different cultural, school and community groups that are involved in important national events.
Maoris’ have shows on national television (which includes a news show that speaks in Maori and English) they recieve alot of support and funding from the government and we also have a Maori party (and Euro New Zealanders) in parliment.
We are proud of the many different cultures that make up our country. Just because we allow them to express them, dosen’t mean we are going to loose our national identity as New Zealanders.
As a nation we believe in fairness and equilibrium.
I think Mesa, AZ needs to get a life and start worrying about things of significance rather than picking on a group of successful Native American students who are proud of who they are.
If they are discriminating cultures than what does that say about their own cultural identities?
Do they even know who they are?
Why are they forcing others to be what they are not?
What about the graduation ceremonies? Arent they cultural? The ceremonies and form of dress for them originated from European culture, so why can’t other Americans wear their form of cultural dress?
Native Americans have a right to wear feathers…after all,
They are the natives of America.
Posted 01 Jun 2006 at 12:05 am ¶
thaite wrote:
HAHAH! I graduated from this high school many years ago. The funny thing is, it’s now more ethnically diverse than it ever was. Lot of white flight going on in the area. Back then, it was Mormonville. The NA kids (like all ten of them) were bussed in from the reservation.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/0525mr-featherupdate0525Z11.html
Posted 01 Jun 2006 at 2:28 am ¶
justin wrote:
I should let this pass, but I can’t help or control myself.
Maori make up about 13% to 15% of New Zealanders. NZ is legally bicultural and Maori are used as pawns against other cultures. Maria you should check out Aliens at my Table by Manying Ip or watch Eye to Eye on channel one. Greenstone and bone pendants raise exactly the same controversy here, (maria) tell me you don’t know some one with a Celtic cross. Scripture teachers come into our schools and hand out bibles in some schools every week. Maori have a feather bank, but they don’t have customary rights to the fore shore any more. They get given road kill and now they can’t collect shell fish for themselves.
“Fairness and equilibrium” I’m going to throw up.
Posted 01 Jun 2006 at 5:03 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
OK - bringing it back to specifically native american aboriginal rights… (as opposed to global aboriginal rights - dude, some of you sound like you should submit an article to MMW on this issue - absolutely facinating).
MTEVC: I see where you’re coming from AND I still disagree:
IF the issue were that a minority of students wanted an actual feather ceremony to be a part of their graduation ceremony in school, that only pertains to them and excludes others, then sure, it should be a seperate thing. BUT it sounds as if the feathers are already given and are simply worn at gradutation. Therefore, is the wearing of a feather any more seperating than a female Muslim student wearing a head covering? Or a guy wearing a dashiki? Or a devout Christian or Jew wearing a cross or star that peaks outside of the gown? How about a Sikh wearing a turban? A south Asian Hindu with a bindi? I’m deliberately using religious examples since for many Native Americans, their “ethnicity” is tied to religious/spiritual traditions.
Your example of Kente cloth puzzles me - it is not a universal statement of African-American or even African cultural traditions, it has been used in the last 50 years more as a socio-political statement, and no ritual is attached to them in the States (that I’m aware of). Is your fear that someone will wear an African robe in lieu of a graduation gown? Then yes, the school should enforce a uniform code. But if it’s, say, a headband in Kente pattern that the student wears ALONG WITH the graduation uniform? Then where is the problem?
My final question pertains to the article: WHY is this an issue? WHO is making it a big deal? HAS the feather really become a distraction to the graduation? WHO feels excluded? This seems reactionary - the question remains, reacting to what?
Some POV background: I went to 19 years of Catholic school, 12 of those years in uniform (excluding preschool and college). There are ways to express one’s individuality while still conforming to a dress code. It’s not the military, it’s SCHOOL. Therefore, additions to the uniform that were neither distracting or offensive were permitted. I have no idea if the school district in the article enforces a uniform or basic dress standards (most I’ve seen seem to now embrace the latter, and a few have the former). Any change in regs has to be uniformly (no pun intended) applied to the entire student body throughout the school year, and in all fairness shouldn’t single out one group or another.
Posted 01 Jun 2006 at 8:04 am ¶
mtevc wrote:
in response to lyonside, you noted: “Your example of Kente cloth puzzles me - it is not a universal statement of African-American or even African cultural traditions”…
While you’re right on this, there are many that would refute this…we could haggle all day about this or that, honestly. You’d be surprised what could come of it all, and I am not talking about legitimate ethnic garb or religious wear…geez, I feel like Armstrong Williams…and I am usually the most reactionary! Where I went to college (Vassar) from what I hear…after I left, even had the Black alums doing a separate grad ceremony for the black students in a kente cloth covered robe…and I am mixed on my feelings on this…you can do whatever you want…but my thought that the school is one unit…one entity…and we should be proud to march with all. I still remember…and this is when I attended in 1982-1986, the issue of the black tables in the cafeteria…i tended to float between the white side and the black side…and i am sure i won no friends in some cases on the black side for that.
Posted 01 Jun 2006 at 10:47 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
mtevc: yeah, I agree w/ you on the “seperate ceremonies” angle - even willing segregation is still segregation.
BUT - that’s NOT what the article is talking about - what about the REST of my comment?
Posted 02 Jun 2006 at 12:51 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:
sorry for not responding sooner Lyonside, but really behind at work…and i work for myself! i get your point lyonside, especially after hearing how you suffering wearing an itchy catholic school uniform for decades! HA!
i wonder too why this has come up now, and my only comment is that if the item that is worn (turban for example) is an everyday part of the person’s life, then that’s a different story…I do wonder why this became an issue though???
Posted 07 Jun 2006 at 8:37 am ¶