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Senate committee advances bill ensuring Native students may wear tribal regalia at public school events
Summary
Senate Education advanced SB163 to allow students who are members of federally recognized tribes to wear tribal regalia, ceremonial items and related footwear at public school graduation ceremonies and events. An emergency clause was added so the law could take effect for the current graduation season; the committee gave the bill a due-pass vote.
Senate Education on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to Senate Bill 163, a measure to prohibit public schools from banning enrolled or eligible students of federally recognized tribes from wearing tribal regalia and ceremonial items at graduation ceremonies and other public school events.
Supporters said the measure protects cultural expression and prevents students from being excluded or disciplined for wearing items such as beaded caps, feather plumes or moccasins. Secretary Monette of the Office of Indian Affairs and Sen. Shenda, the bill sponsor, urged passage and added the committee-approved emergency clause so the law could be effective for the upcoming graduation season.
Testimony at the committee included Native students and tribal representatives. Demetri Smith, a Sandia High School senior and youth intern with NM Native Vote, described regalia as “a powerful symbol of my culture, heritage, and identity” and urged members to “please vote in support of SB163.” Kaya Brown, a student who said she had been restricted from wearing traditional regalia at her own high school graduation, told the committee the items “represent the sacrifices our ancestors made” and “allow those who came before me to walk alongside me.”
Conroy Chino, representing the Pueblos of Taos and Acoma and the Center on Law and Poverty, said the bill “protects the freedom of expression by native students” and guards against harassment and intimidation at a celebratory milestone. The Public Education Department’s assistant secretary for Indian education, Katie Ann Waniko, told the committee PED supports the bill and will work collaboratively on implementation.
Sen. Ramos asked whether local policy could already address the issue; Sen. Shenda and witnesses said some districts have local policies but the bill puts the rule in statute to create a uniform statewide standard after incidents in some schools raised national attention. Committee members expressed bipartisan support for the measure as a cultural-protection step. Sen. Figueroa moved a due-pass motion; the committee recorded a due-pass recommendation (committee tally reported as 8 yes, 0 no, 1 excused). The bill will move forward for further consideration.
The committee also approved an amendment that adds an emergency clause intended to make the law effective for the current graduation year.
