High School Student Will Not Be Prevented From Wearing Eagle Feather at Graduation

An Indigenous high school senior will now be able to wear an eagle feather during his graduation ceremony in June, following a successful appeal by his father to the Tennessee school board. The decision underscores the importance of respect for all religious beliefs in educational institutions.

Stephen White Eagle, the student’s father, ardently defended his son’s right before the Rutherford County Board of Education, highlighting the eagle feather’s deep cultural and religious significance for their family. The White Eagles are Southern Cheyenne and enrolled citizens of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma, for whom the eagle feather symbolizes strength, achievement, and spiritual connection.

“My son and I have been told that his religious beliefs do not fit into the school’s policy. And that is unfair and unconstitutional,” White Eagle passionately stated, emphasizing the incongruence between the school’s policy and the constitutional rights afforded to every citizen. This sentiment, voiced at the board meeting, was widely shared and supported by various individuals and organizations, including VOA, who reported on the discriminatory stance initially taken by the school administration.

Despite the widespread ban in many schools across the country against wearing eagle feathers or other cultural regalia, citing violations of dress code policies, the American Civil Liberties Union has pointed out the importance of these symbols. They represent not only personal achievements but also a profound connection to one’s heritage and beliefs.

Stephen White Eagle further argued at the Board of Education meeting, “Unless you’re going to tell all students that includes the girl who wears the hijab or the Jewish boy that wears a yarmulka that their religious items are not permitted at graduation, then my son should be allowed to wear his religious item that being the eagle feather.” This powerful comparison, as reported by WSMV, illustrated the inconsistency in enforcing dress code policies and highlighted the discriminatory nature of the school’s initial decision.

In a heartfelt plea to the school board, White Eagle compared the eagle feather to other religious symbols, such as the Christian cross, emphasizing the violation of the First Amendment rights this ban represented. His words resonated with board members, leading to a swift and unanimous decision to allow the wearing of the eagle feather during graduation ceremonies.

Board member Tammy Sharp, expressing her support for White Eagle’s plea, put forth a motion to permit the eagle feather on the graduation cap. Sharp spoke about her relationship with a Native American from the South Dakota Rosebud Reservation, stressed the unnecessary nature of this battle, apologizing for the oversight and emphasizing the need for respect and recognition of all students’ identities and religious beliefs. “This is not a fight that we want to fight. I’m going to put a motion on the table to allow this gentleman to wear that on his hat,” Sharp said, as reported by Tennessee Firefly.

Another board member, seconded the motion on the grounds of freedom of religion, reinforcing the board’s commitment to inclusivity and equal treatment for all students, regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds.

The unanimous vote by the board members to allow the wearing of the eagle feather marks a significant step forward in recognizing and respecting the diverse cultural and religious identities of students within the educational system. It sets a precedent for other schools to follow, encouraging a more inclusive and respectful approach to individual beliefs and traditions.