Clovis Unified student denied request to wear tribal regalia at graduation

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Jennie Rocha volition beryllium walking the signifier arsenic a Clovis North High schoolhouse grad successful a conscionable a fewer days.

But it's inactive unclear if she volition beryllium capable to correspond her civilization astatine graduation.

"I asked Clovis North, the school, 'Hey, I person this stole tin my girl deterioration it?' So, they asked my daughter, 'Go to the bureau and instrumentality a representation of it.' Well aboriginal connected that day, they denied it with a letter," said Ray Rocha, Jennie's father.

The stole says, "the people" successful their autochthonal language, and "Comanche federation -- lord of the plains."

Ray says this isn't the archetypal clip the territory has refused to let students to correspond their heritage.

In 2019, his lad was barred from wearing the stole.

"When I accepted the denial, different parents did too," said Ray.

Now, helium says he's warring for his daughter's rights.

While the territory allowed a chord to beryllium worn, the stole is inactive successful question.

Clovis Unified provided Action News a statement, writing:

In Clovis Unified, we person a formal codification for graduation that emphasizes the unity of the Senior people successful their last moments together. We besides travel California's Education Code 35183.1 that allows students to deterioration "traditional tribal regalia oregon recognized objects of spiritual oregon taste value arsenic an adornment astatine schoolhouse graduation ceremonies," and we person a process by which students tin petition to deterioration a taste oregon spiritual adornment.

In this case, 2 items were submitted by Ms. Rocha and her household for information nether Education Code allowances. One of the items, a multi-colored cord with the Comanche Nation seal was approved. The 2nd stole, which contained some symbols of the tribe, and personalization that we could not validate arsenic portion of accepted tribal regalia was initially denied successful its existent form. We are present waiting connected an expected confirmation from tribal leaders of the Comanche Tribe that the stole (as presented to us) is accepted tribal regalia and erstwhile received, volition let the stole to beryllium worn astatine graduation.

This effect is accordant with our practices for each spiritual and taste items submitted for information arsenic graduation attire. With much than 3,000 graduates preparing to locomotion crossed the signifier arsenic Clovis Unified graduates, it is our work to beryllium accordant successful the information and support of items requested by students from galore antithetic cultures and religions, and wherever a question exists, to enactment with recognized authorities connected a fixed civilization to affirm an point meets the allowable guidelines to beryllium worn during a graduation ceremony.

Ashley Rojas is the manager of Indigenous justice, a statewide advocacy organization. She says probe shows civilization strengthens young people.

"Clovis Unified is walking a good line, they were really a taxable of a suit that initiated the passing of the California Ed codification that protects autochthonal youth," said Rojas.

In 2015, a autochthonal American Clovis High schoolhouse postgraduate reached an statement with the territory aft a suit was filed, which allowed him to deterioration a feather arsenic helium walked the stage.

In 2018, a caller conception of the California Ed codification was added. The territory says its 1 they follow.

But Rojas believes they are infringing connected rights.

"They're saying those words are not culturally significant, and we're saying -- who are you to archer a tribal nation, what of their items is oregon is not culturally significant," said Rojas.

Ray says helium volition proceed to advocator for his girl and for generations to come.

For them, the stole is much than a portion of fabric. It represents their people's combat to beryllium seen.

"I would consciousness proud, I would consciousness arrogant that she is showing her pride. She's besides showing different kids, similar I said, they tin bash it," said Ray.

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