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Public commenter tells Utah education board: "This regalia is not a costume"
Summary
An unidentified public commenter told the Utah State Board of Education that Native regalia and eagle feathers are part of identity, not costumes to be mimicked, and urged schools to teach respect and encourage Native students to feel pride in their heritage.
An unidentified public commenter told the Utah State Board of Education during the meeting's public comment period that Native regalia is a central part of identity and should not be treated as a costume. "My heritage is very important to me because it's my identity," the commenter said. "This regalia is not a costume ... our regalias look different, we're wearing eagle feathers, it's not something to mimic, it's not something to make fun of."
The commenter urged the board and school communities to share that message with non‑Native students and to support Native students in being proud of who they are. They emphasized that regalia and ceremonial items are not annual dress‑up but expressions of culture and identity that deserve respect and understanding.
No board action or staff response is recorded in the provided transcript. The remarks appear as part of the public comment period and call for cultural awareness in schools rather than proposing a specific policy or motion.
