Cumberland County Schools holds feather ceremony, affirms state law allowing feathers on graduation tassels; UNC Pembroke awards tuition scholarships

Cumberland County Schools’ Office of Indian Education held a feather ceremony at Grace Creek High School to honor Native American graduates and to present scholarships and ceremonial gifts, officials said.

The event brought together students from 13 tribes in Cumberland County’s graduating class of 87 and included presentations from April Whittemore Locklear, coordinator Candace Revels, and University of North Carolina at Pembroke scholarship staff. Timothy Sampson, director of financial aid and scholarships at UNC Pembroke, told attendees, "Tuition at UNCP is $1,000 per year for in state students. And, The scholarships been awarded tonight covers a full year of tuition."

The ceremony included a formal statement about dress and feather use. Candace Revels, coordinator of the Office of Indian Education, read an updated rule and state law and said that "students who are members of a state or a federally recognized Indian tribe shall be allowed to wear CCS issued or approved feathers attached to the graduation tassels as a means of cultural expression consistent with North Carolina session law 20 23 dash 43." Revels emphasized that "Feathers are not to be worn in lieu of tassels" and noted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules that make hawk feathers gifts but prohibit sale or capture without a permit.

Speakers and organizers described the ceremony as both cultural recognition and practical support for students. April Whittemore Locklear, introduced as the owner of Luna Tree LLC and a licensed clinical addiction counselor, delivered a keynote talk addressing self-awareness, resilience and cultural pride. Revels said every feather presented at the ceremony was beaded by Indian Education staff members and publicly thanked her team by name for preparing the regalia.

UNC Pembroke presented scholarships on stage; Sampson and his colleagues Courtney McGirt Dow and Nicholas Hunt asked recipients to remain for a group photo and encouraged alumni attendance in the fall. The university representatives and partners from the Curt and Kathleen Locklear American Indian Heritage Center joined the scholarship presentation.

Organizers used the occasion to recognize outgoing Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Conley Jr. Revels said the office presented Conley with a beaded bolo tie and accompanying earrings and praised his support for Indian education, quoting his stated approach, "Let's figure it out together," as evidence of that support.

Representatives of Native organizations also addressed the audience. Kevin Carter, president of the American Indian Society of North Carolina, thanked Cumberland County Schools for acknowledging Native students and culture. Revels publicly thanked state House Representative Jared Lowry and said he "was able to pass the bill for native students and worked so hard to get that bill passed" allowing feathers at graduation.

The ceremony included musical tributes and readings from students and community members and closed with a retiring of the colors by Gray(s) Creek High School JROTC and dismissal by the Cumberland County culture class. Organizers encouraged graduates to carry cultural pride into postsecondary education, the workforce, the military or other paths.

Details from the ceremony: UNC Pembroke’s scholarships presented that night cover one year of in-state tuition at the university; the Office of Indian Education reported 13 tribes were represented among 87 graduates; all feathers used in the ceremony were hand-beaded by Indian Education staff. The ceremony reiterated that federal wildlife rules prohibit sale or trade of hawk feathers and require permits for capture.

The event was primarily celebratory and informational; no formal board votes or policy adoptions occurred during the ceremony. Staff and community leaders presented scholarships and ceremonial gifts and clarified existing state and federal rules on cultural regalia.