School apologizes after seizing Lakota student's feathered graduation cap

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/school-apologizes-after-seizing-lakota-student-s-feathered-graduation-cap/ar-BB1mDV3X

Farmington Municipal Schools wrote in a statement to families Thursday that staff returned Genesis White Bull’s cap and feather to her family after the ceremony. District protocol forbids students from altering their cap and gown, the district added.

But administrators the next day followed up with an apology.


“The intent, always, is to create a ceremony that is inclusive of all graduates and honors all of our students,” the district wrote in another statement. “It is clear that what occurred detracted from that and had the opposite effect. We are confident that our staff intended no disrespect or to violate anyone’s cultural beliefs or practices.”

The expression of remorse came amid a flurry of criticism as video of the incident spread. The council of the Navajo Nation, which borders Farmington, called the school’s actions “demeaning” and said it stood in solidarity with tribal members’ right to honor their culture by wearing traditional attire at graduations.

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Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, the Navajo Nation’s first lady, said the beaded cap and a plume symbolize achievement for Native students and “the culmination of prayers and ceremonies done for them.”