We sent a letter to Wichita North High on behalf of Carlos Hernandez and Emilian Carrion, two of the school's 2022 graduates. Mr. Hernandez belongs to the Yankton Sioux Tribe, and Mr. Carrion belongs to the Sac and Fox Nation, Kickapoo Tribe, and Sioux Nations. Both graduates intended to wear Native American hand-beaded graduation caps and eagle feathers which were important gifts from family elders. Mr. Hernandez was told by the Assistant Principal that if he wore his hand-beaded cap across the stage then he would not receive his diploma.
This is a violation of state law.
We’ve asked the school to ensure it doesn’t happen again; we're also working to ensure all Kansas school districts are aware of this requirement in state law so that other families do not have to experience the degradation that these families endured.
