ICYMI: Danielson and Jaquez Lewis Bill to Allow Native American Regalia at Graduation Ceremonies Clears Committee

SB23-202 aims to reverse the systemic effects of residential Native American boarding schools and protect Indigenous students from discrimination

DENVER, CO – Yesterday, Senators Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis’, D-Longmont, bill to allow Native American students to wear traditional regalia at graduation ceremonies cleared the Senate Education Committee.

SB23-202 would require schools, school districts, public colleges, and universities to allow qualifying students, including those who are members of a Tribe, eligible to be members of a Tribe, or are of Native American descent, to wear traditional Native American regalia at graduation ceremonies. The bill aims to protect students from discrimination and reverse the systemic effects of the Indian Civilization Act of 1819.

“This bill ensures that schools cannot infringe on the right of Native American graduates to wear traditional regalia to celebrate their accomplishments,” Danielson said. “It honors their culture and history, and most importantly, supports the students in the way the State of Colorado must.”

“No Native American student should have to choose between participating in their graduation with their classmates or following their religious and cultural traditions,” said Jaquez Lewis. “Our country has a long and tragic history of suppressing Native American culture and forcing people to assimilate. It’s time for Colorado to enshrine these protections for Native American students once and for all.”

In states where there are no protections for Native American dress, students have been barred from wearing everything from beadwork to sealskin caps because the traditional regalia violates school dress code. If enacted, Colorado would join the handful of states that provide protections for these students. 

Colorado is home to two federally recognized Tribes; Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. According to the 2020 US Census, 74,129 Native Americans lived in Colorado, a higher population than the neighboring states of Utah and Idaho.

SB23-202 now heads to the Senate floor. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.