Opinion — Clothes should not be a legal issue in 2023

A new Wisconsin Bill marks a milestone for Indigenous students. But we should be questioning why legal intervention is necessary in the first place.

Under new Assembly Bill 210, students in Wisconsin will now (legally) be allowed to wear tribal regalia — like beadwork and eagle feathers — to their graduation ceremony.

The news may sound positive, but the legislation has sparked debate online. Many think it’s grossly overdue, given Wisconsin already protects displays of [non-Indigenous] ‘religious beliefs, ancestry, creed, race, and national origin’.

Until now there has been no explicit protection for Indigenous students to wear culturally meaningful items at school-sponsored events.

And Wisconsin is not the first state to impart it. In fact, it’s the 14th state to do so as of December 2023.

‘Many other states across the United States have enacted laws protecting Indigenous students’ right to wear items of religious and cultural significance at graduation ceremonies and other school events.’

‘I look forward to Wisconsin being added to that growing list of states,’ said David O’Connor. He is an American Indian consultant for the…