Andre Cramblit: Native student fights to wear moccasins at graduation

Monday, June 6, 2016  

Andre Cramblit. Photo from From The River Collective / Facebook

Liseanne Yazzie, a young member of the Navajo Nation, had to fight school administrators for the right to wear moccasins to her graduation ceremony. Andre Cramblit, a member of the Karuk Tribe, shares a letter he sent to the Sapulpa school district in Oklahoma:

In the face of this positive achievement the same week saw another slap in the face of Native students. In their infinite “wisdom/stupidity” The Salupa High School in Oklahoma opined that Liseanne Yazzie would not be allowed to wear her traditional Diné moccasins to her graduation. Instead of letting her display her heritage the school district deemed her footwear as boots and as such was banned under district policy. Here is a copy of the email I sent the superintendent and school board:

“Moccasins. Moccasins, are you kidding me?

This is 2016. Have we not gotten past the inherent racism that punishes students for being Native American as exemplified by the boarding school era. You might as well tell her not to braid her hair or wear beaded or silver and turquoise jewelry (oh no I hope I did’t give you any ideas). For many years I have fought school districts that tried to oppress Native students by not allowing them to wear feathers at graduation or to come to school with long hair. This issue is just another slap in the face of young Native woman who is just trying to show dignity by honoring her culture. Perhaps she can help educate those in the school system that not all students come from families where tennis shoes, flip flops, sandals, doc martins, birkenstocks etc, are de rigueur fashion deemed appropriate for graduation night by western society."

Get the Story:
Andre Cramblit: Education: Building a Brighter Future (Indian Country Today 6/6)

Also Today:
SAPULPA SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES THE RIGHT THING AND ALLOWS TRADITIONAL REGALIA AT GRADUATION (Native American Rights Fund Blog 5/18)
Sapulpa Public Schools makes exception to allow senior to wear Navajo moccasins at graduation (KJRH 5/18)
Sapulpa teen's fight to wear moccasins pays off (KTUL 5/20)
After initial denial, Sapulpa senior permitted to wear traditional Navajo moccasins to graduation (The Tulsa World 5/19)