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Davis County School District honors about 70 Native American seniors at Title VI ceremony
Summary
About 70 Native American seniors in the Davis County School District were honored at a Title VI graduation ceremony that included a prayer, a student speaker, traditional dancing, a drum group and presentation of graduation stoles, district program staff and students said.
About 70 Native American seniors in the Davis County School District were honored at a Title VI graduation ceremony that included a prayer, a student speaker, traditional dancing and presentation of graduation stoles, speakers said.
The ceremony, organized by the district's Title VI Native American education program, began with a prayer led by the program's state board of directors and featured a student speaker from the Muscogee Nation, cultural dances and a drum group. "Tonight, we're celebrating Native American students all across Davis School District," said Sienna, a Syracuse High School senior.
The Title VI program coordinator said the district receives targeted funding to support Native American students and outlined several services the program provides, including a Navajo class that can count for elective credit, tutoring, cultural visits, and ceremonial recognition at graduation. The coordinator said John Zurbachan, the district's assistant superintendent, spoke at the ceremony and "has advocated for our program for many years."
The coordinator said ceremony traditions included giving graduating seniors a stole and recounting a story about Navajo chief Manuelito, quoting his post-treaty message: "We cannot beat him, but we can survive through education." The coordinator framed the stoles and ceremony as ways to honor ancestors and support students' future generations.
Students at the event described the ceremony as personally meaningful. One student who identified as Dene Navajo said the traditional dance and the outfit that honored her mother were empowering. "To be able to give a chance for my ancestors to graduate through me, it's an honor and a blessing," Sienna said. Another student from the Chippewa community said the dancing inspired her to join in.
Program staff and students said the Title VI program aims to help Native students connect with their tribes, preserve cultural practices and succeed academically through tutoring and culturally based coursework. The coordinator said those elements were woven into the graduation event to recognize students' academic achievement and cultural identity.
The ceremony and the services described were attributed by program staff and participating students; no formal board action or vote was reported at the event.
