Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham gives her State of the State speech to kick off the 2025 Legislature in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a high-profile bill that protects the rights of Native American students to wear traditional regalia during school ceremonies, including graduations.
Lujan Grisham signed the bill, SB 163, into law on Wednesday.
“This legislation represents our commitment to honoring and respecting the rich cultural heritage of New Mexico’s Native communities,” Lujan Grisham said after signing the bill. “Every student deserves to celebrate their academic achievements in a way that honors their identity and traditions.”
The bill would preven tpublic schools from banning tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance when they’re worn by students who are members of a federally recognized tribe, nation or pueblo.
Last year, a student at Farmington High School had her graduation cap confiscated by officials because it included an eagle plume and was beaded around the rim. She was a Hunkpapa Lakota from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe; her cap was replaced with a generic graduation cap.
The incident received widespread attention and condemnation. The school district noted at the time that its protocols said graduation caps and gowns could not be altered.
“This is a powerful law protecting the rights of Native students and their families to celebrate their achievements while honoring their culture and identity,” Indian Affairs Secretary Josett Monette (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) said. “We are proud to have worked alongside Governor Lujan Grisham, the Public Education Department, and our legislative sponsors to make this a reality. Students’ milestones deserve to be honored without barriers, ensuring that Native students can wear their regalia is a victory for tradition, identity, and resilience.”
The bill itself flew through the legislature without opposition. The bill passed both the House and Senate on unanimous votes.
Since the bill included an emergency clause, it became effective upon the governor’s signature, which means it will be in effect for this year’s graduations.
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