TAHLEQUAH, Okla.—After waiting for this moment her entire life, Bhie-Cie Ledesma was ready. The 27-year-old Shoshone student and mother of two was preparing to cross the stage for graduation from Northeastern State University. She was finally graduating with a bachelor’s in health care administration.
She even had a special mortarboard. Her stepmother beaded it, and her mother attached an eagle feather at the top of it. An elder had given Ledesma the feather before she left her home state of Nevada for Oklahoma. The beadwork included NSU colors and a special design with red in the center, signifying that one of her family members was a veteran.
Then other students in line told her she couldn’t “wear that stuff” because school officials were making students remove feathers from their graduation caps and mortarboards.
Ledesma made it onstage with her feather and beadwork still on her cap but not before a confrontation with a university official.
“He told me I wasn’t allowed to wear my stuff,” Ledesma said. “There really was no way that I was taking it off. I think the only reason that I came out more fortunate than some of my fellow Natives who were stripped was the fact that I was tardy.”
That was the scene last May at NSU’s graduation when several students were told to remove feathers and other items or they wouldn’t be allowed to participate in the ceremonies. NSU has since revised its guidelines on graduation attire, in time for the fall commencement on Dec. 15.
Dr. Dalton Bigbee, the NSU vice president for academic affairs, said in a Dec. 5 statement: “Northeastern State University respects the desire of our Native American students to honor tribal traditions and customs that hold particular significance during solemn occasions. We want to allow students, if they wish, to wear items such as feathers, beads, medallions, stoles, or other relevant tribal insignia during NSU commencement ceremonies. Those who would like to have their requests considered should contact Dr. Phyllis Fife, director of the NSU Center for Tribal Studies.”
