in Colorado bill

added teachings about Native American religion and culture. Other changes that try to create more respect toward Native American culture have happened, including a law Colorado passed last year that bans Native American mascots.

Colorado would join eight other states in ensuring Native American students can wear traditional regalia.

Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat co-sponsoring the legislation, said the goal is to make sure that every Colorado district understands.

e bill de nes qualifying students as members of a tribe, eligible tribal members, or those of Native American descent. e bill says that immediate family members would also be allowed to wear traditional Native American dress during their students’ graduation ceremony.

Speakers at a Senate Education Committee hearing said traditional dress might include clothing, bracelets, necklaces, or eagle feathers. e bill needs a nal vote in the Senate before heading to the House.

e bill doesn’t say how schools will ensure students have the right to wear traditional items, Jaquez Lewis said.

“We leave the details up to the school districts and the schools but what we do in this bill is we set guardrails,” she said.

Some districts have started to create policies.

Cherry Creek School District has cre- ated a ceremony for Native American students and is workingon graduation ceremony policies, said Aspen Rendon, a partner with the district’s department of equity, culture, and community engagement. e district also has an indigenous action committee working toward creating a more inclusive district, Rendon said.

Je rey Chavez, the district’s indigenous and native student community liaison, said it’s important to recognize native traditions, especially in urban districts like Cherry Creek. Ensuring students get to wear their regalia at ceremonies helps carry on traditions.

“ at’s how we honor ourselves and our community and family with those traditions,” he said.

Indigenous action committee member Donna Chrisjohn said a principal didn’t allow her son in 2020 to wear Native American regalia at his graduation ceremony. Her son ended up not participating in the ceremony. She is glad the district is changing and happy to have helped make lawmakers aware of the issue.

“ is is so impactful for all families to know that someone will not push back when their child decides that they want to show up as who they really are,” Chrisjohn said. “ at’s a huge step in the right direction.”

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.