Indigenous Student Sues Tacoma Schools Over Graduation Regalia Ban

Gracie Belle Ray, an Indigenous student and member of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska, has filed a lawsuit against Tacoma Public Schools after being denied the right to wear her sacred button blanket during her graduation ceremony at Lincoln High School in June. The lawsuit, filed on December 18, alleges discrimination and negligence, as Ray was informed that wearing the blanket would exclude her from the ceremony. It highlights that while Ray was prohibited from wearing her blanket, other students were allowed to wear culturally significant attire such as grass skirts and leis. Tacoma Public Schools has issued an apology to Ray and her family and is currently investigating the incident to prevent future occurrences. The lawsuit claims Ray continues to suffer emotional distress and seeks unspecified damages, including costs for medical and counseling services.

Washington state law supports the right of students from federally recognized tribes to wear culturally significant attire at school events, strengthening Ray's case. This incident has raised important questions about the treatment of Indigenous students and cultural representation in public schools, with potential implications for how schools manage cultural attire in the future.