Background:
NARF has a long history of assisting students who are prohibited from wearing eagle feathers at graduation ceremonies due to narrow graduation dress codes. We continue to advocate for these graduates so they can celebrate their great successes without sacrificing their Tribal identity.
Many of the 574 federally-recognized tribes recognize leadership achievements by bestowing the person who earned the honor an eagle feather or plume. While tribal religions and spiritual practices vary from each other, in general, a Native person who wears a plume or eagle feather at a public event has done something amazing to show that they have the maturity to pray and care for themselves and others.
Many Native communities consider eagles to be spiritually significant. They believe that eagles carry the peoples’ prayers, and as eagles roam the sky, they have a special connection with the Creator. Their feathers represent honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, power, and freedom. The United States government has long recognized the importance of eagles for Native religious and spiritual beliefs. In these communities, eagle feathers are given to individuals to mark and honor significant life accomplishments, such as graduation.
Similar to other religious objects, such as a cross or a rosary, Native people have used the eagle feather or plumes to pray. Many tribal religions regard the eagle as the bird that carries human prayers to the creator. Only a person with the maturity to handle a feather or plume with reverence may use one. Praying with eagle feathers and plumes, and bestowing them as a leadership honor are religious practices that Native peoples have observed for thousands of years.
Unfortunately, each year some school districts persist in restricting Native American religious liberty and viewpoints. This singling out of Native students puts them in the position of having to choose between participating in the celebration of a great accomplishment with their classmates or following their Native religious and cultural traditions.Every spring, Native American students from across the country contact NARF because they are being prohibited from wearing eagle feathers at graduation ceremonies. You can see some examples of those cases linked below.
Fortunately, once schools come to understand the religious, cultural, and academic significance of eagle feathers, most make accommodations and exceptions for Native American students. In addition to supporting Native students who were denied their right to wear an eagle feather, we have created resources for students who want to wear eagle feathers at graduation.
Resources for Students and Families:
Court Cases
Lena’ Black v. Broken Arrow School District
Goodall v. Midway Independent School District
Titman v. Clovis Unified School District
Waln v. Dysart School District
Press and Advocacy
NARF Staff Attorney Morgan Saunders discusses wearing regalia at graduation on Native America Calling. (May 2025)
NARF Staff Attorney David L. Gover discusses students rights to wear traditional regalia at graduation and current state legislation on Indian Country Today. (May 2023)
NARF Deputy Director Matthew Campbell testifies before the CO Senate Education Committee in favor of S.B. 23-202, to allow Indigenous regalia at graduation ceremonies. (April 2023)
Sapulpa School District does the right thing and allows traditional regalia at graduation. (May 2016)
NARF secures North Dakota students’ right to wear eagle feathers at graduation ceremonies. (February 2015)
More Cases
