Indigenous student upset over ‘racist’ grad party
Following a controversial cowboys-and Indians-themed graduation party in Lethbridge, indigenous student Tieja Medicine Crane is speaking out against the “racist” celebration.
“My culture isn’t a costume and it’s never going to be,” said Medicine Crane. “I don’t think people understand the extent of what they’re doing. They don’t understand the spiritual meaning of war paint, headdresses, the feathers and the dancing.”
The party took place over May long weekend for graduates of Chinook High School. Photos and videos were posted across social media platforms.
Medicine Crane, who goes to a nearby high school, was appalled after seeing the posts online and decided to speak out. She was met with indignation from partygoers, who defended their actions despite her concerns. She posted screenshots of the conversations on her Facebook page.
One user wrote: “You have a great culture and I’m (n)ot discriminating anyone here. I’m just stating the fact that it was not racist to support and celebrate the war that happened.”
Other called Medicine Crane out for overreacting.
But she didn’t back down. The party wasn’t a celebration of history, argued Medicine Crane, but instead drew attention to Canada’s dark history of colonialization.
“There is so much racism in history. We were put in residential schools and the point of the schools were to take the Indian out of the child, which is completely awful,” said Medicine Crane. “There’s a reason we learn about history and these awful things — it’s so we don’t repeat them.”
Lethbridge School District 51 said the party wasn’t schoolsanctioned and was unaware of it happening. Chinook High held an assembly Thursday to address the issue.
The district encouraged students to behave appropriately during graduation season and to think critically about indigenous history.
Although Medicine Crane faced negative reactions online, she said the support for her comments was even greater.
One supporter was Kalli Eagle Speaker, a University of Lethbridge student who majors in Native American Studies.
“I knew I couldn’t be silent about it,” Eagle Speaker said. She replied to comments on her post to show support for Crane and in hope of educating non-indigenous people on the culture — and in so easily disregarding Medicine Crane’s concerns.
“It was very disappointing to see how many people thought it was OK, when it’s very clearly not,” Eagle Speaker said. “I’m trying to have an open mind and use this as a teaching opportunity for those that are willing to learn.”