Title
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND SHOWING APPRECIATION TO OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HUNTER FOR HIS WORK IN SUPPORT OF WEARING EAGLE FEATHERS DURING GRADUATION CEREMONIES
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government in behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America;
WHEREAS, eagle feathers hold a sacred religious place for Cherokee people and those feathers are often gifted for significant achievements, including high school graduation;
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation recently expressed support for a Cherokee student who was advocating for Vian Public Schools to change their policy of prohibiting eagle feathers on graduation regalia;
WHEREAS, in addition to actions by Cherokee Nation, the Oklahoma Attorney General, Mike Hunter, sent a letter to Vian Public Schools urging them to change their policy to allow religious exceptions, as required by Oklahoma law, to the policy prohibiting wearing eagle feathers. As a result, Vian Public Schools publically announced that they would amend its policies to allow Cherokee students to wear eagle feathers on their graduation regalia.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that Cherokee Nation expresses its appreciation to Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter and his staff for supporting the Christie family and the Cherokee Nation on this very important issue and encouraging all public schools to allow the display of eagle feathers for religious purposes at high school graduations.