GRADUATION ADDRESS LEADS TO WALKOUT AT
HIGH SCHOOL
JUNE 6 2013
"she had also been influenced by the Canadian First Nations “Idle No More”
movement"
DULUTH, MINNESOTA- A valedictory address delivered by a member of the Red Cliff
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa at Sunday’s graduation exercises at Bayfield
High School led to a protest walkout by about 15 Native American students
Monday.
Victoria Gokee-Rindal, a member of the Class of 2013, departed from the text of
her remarks on Sunday, charging that racial insensitivity and disrespect for
students who are tribal members are ongoing issues at the school, and part of a
larger problem.
“Why is it that Native students of the Bayfield School District are made to
feel like they have to check their Indian-ness at the door?” she asked in her
address, also asserting that teachers who stood up for Native American students
were treated with disrespect for that support.
On Wednesday, Gokee-Rindal said she felt compelled to make the remarks to call
attention to what she said was a pervasive issue at the school.
“I felt like I had the opportunity to really address my community and the
school, and I wanted to take full advantage of that,” she said.
Gokee-Rindal said she had been encouraged to take the stand by a number of
women in the Red Cliff community.
“I was given an eagle feather and tobacco to bring up certain issues at
graduation, to get the word out,” she said.
Gokee-Rindal said her main concerns were about “basic human rights.”
She said she had also been influenced by the Canadian First Nations “Idle No
More” movement in support of indigenous rights...
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RELATED NEWS:
Poarch Creek Student Fined for Wearing Eagle Feather at Graduation
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/05/31/poarch-creek-student-fined-wearing-eagle-feather-graduation-149646
By: Native Voices United - USA/Canada online radio
High School Phone Number: (530) 493-2697
Mike Matheson Superintendant:http://www.sisuhsd.net/misc/cms_contact?d=x&id=1271057783841&return_url=1370732034436
The Principal is Angelika Brown: http://www.happycamp-highschool.com/misc/cms_contact?d=x&id=1312697178419&return_url=1370731749848
By Trish Glose/KTVL.comHAPPY CAMP, Cal. -- A high school student, getting ready to graduate from Happy Camp High school, wanted to celebrate her heritage by wearing a basket cap with her gown. Her principal told her no.Now, Cheyenne Moore's mother is upset her daughter isn't allowed to wear it. Leslie Moore says her daughter is part Karuk. Along with necklaces and beads, females traditionally wear basket caps.My daughter is very in to her culture and the principal said she was not allowed to because the traditional caps were part of the ceremony, said Moore.Mike Matheson, with the Siskiyou Union High School district says students are only allowed to wear the traditional caps and gowns at all the high schools in the district. He says in Happy Camp, seniors are encouraged to wear traditional beads and necklaces to represent their heritage.Any other head gear other than a traditional cap is not allowed, Matheson said.Moore says her daughter is upset, her culture is very important to her and it's a big part of the community here in Happy Camp and people in the past have worn their caps.She says her daughter wanted to use the traditional cap in the ceremony, too when it was time to move the tassle and when the other students threw the caps into the air. Moore says her daughter plans on wearing the basket cap anyway, even though she was asked not to and said, I'll back her up 100 percent.Matheson says any student wearing anything other than the standard cap and gown will not be allowed to proceed.