Commentary

When Length of Hair Does Not Cut It

by Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition. Discussion »

Coming of age can be difficult in the best of circumstances for teen-agers. All youth, regardless of the color of their skin, can face difficult challenges, such as peer pressure and even bullying. So much so, the White House three weeks ago held a one-day anti-bullying summit. This week Nickelodeon launched an anti-bullying campaign.

Coming of Age

So when an American Indian teen decides to embrace his culture and heritage by growing his long - especially in a community that is made up of mostly non-Indians - he may face hardships beyond what a non-Indian may endure.

Such was the case of thirteen-year old Seth Chaisson, an enrolled member of the United Tribes of Houma, who was suspended from the Juban Parc Junior High School in Denham Springs, Louisiana. His offense: his bangs touched his eyebrows; his hair touched his collar. The sixth-grader breached school policy.

Many American Indians grow their hair long as a means to honor their spirituality.

They believe it is only appropriate to cut their hair when someone close, a family member or friend, has died. This tradition has been passed down from one generation to the next.

Unfortunately, non-Indians often lack understanding of the basic fundamentals of American Indian culture, therefore cannot lack respect for American Indian culture. One prime example of even involved Chaisson when “New York Post” ran the headline, “Schoolkid’s heritage scalped.” This headline was totally disrespectful and displays gross ignorance concerning the historical fact of scalping by the non-Indian editors of the publication.

For several decades, American Indians have suffered by having the highest rate of high school dropout rates of any racial/ethnic group in the United States.

It would seem the school boards and school administrators should discover different ways to discipline students. Keeping them in school should be the goal. Giving any child time off to sit home to play video games or roam neighborhood streets does not answer the larger challenge to ensure no child is truly left behind.

Public schools throughout the United States should examine “why” American Indian students may not want to keep attending school. They could begin by understanding the basic fundamentals of American Indian culture.

There are enough challenges on a normal basis for any teenager. Cutting short an American Indian student’s education because of long hair must be challenged. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Louisiana took up the challenge. The Native News Network applauds this organization.

It was reported Chaisson was able to attend school last Friday.