Seneca Youth Sent Home From School For Haircut

Seneca Youth Sent Home From School For Haircut

mohawkThis evening, the USA Today reported that in St. George, Utah., Gary Sanden's 7 year old son of Seneca & Paiute decent, “was removed from his classroom this week after school officials decided his Mohawk haircut was too distracting”  .

The 2nd graders parents choose his haircut because its popular with Native people in many places.  Gary's son was only allowed to return to class after school administrators demanded a tribal letter from the Seneca Indian Tribe of New York who wrote:

“It is common for Seneca boys to wear a Mohawk because after years of discrimination and oppression, they are proud to share who they are, it’s disappointing that your school does not view diversity in a positive manner, and it is our hope that (the boy) does not suffer any discrimination by the school administration or faculty as a result of his hair cut”  . (USA Today)

mohawk

The school eventually allowed Gary's son to return to school with his Mohawk haircut after it was proven that there was cultural value attached to the young boys haircut.  The Sanden family declined to share a photo of their kids Mohawk in fear of backlash that he might receive at school from the media's attention.

We here at Powwows.com, and on behalf of our readers would like send out our Nations strength to this family and say Thank You for reppin us proudly in Indian Country, for everyone else, this is a reminder to always be proud of your Native heritage, rock your mocs when you can, spike your mohawks, and let out a lulu to the Non-Natives of this land to let them know we're still here, alive & well, flourishing.

smoke

And maybe when Gary's son gets older, he will remind the schools of St George, Utah., and all the other schools in our country, that they can thank the Seneca's and the four other Iroquois Nations for giving us their tribal framework which inspired the founding fathers to create our U.S. Constitution. #Aho

proud

longhouse


6 Comments on “Seneca Youth Sent Home From School For Haircut”

  • Avatar for Tim Ozga

    Tim Ozga

    says:

    Entirety too much is made of hairstyles especially considering our public schools. Just how distracting can hair or other styles be that justifies this sort of shaming. Better to deal with a young person’s free choices and teach them in class, than to teach them about power and control by putting them out over something very trivial. This is not the military.

  • Avatar for Pat Allen

    Pat Allen

    says:

    It is not right to surpress the natural hiertage of this young boy or any others thatvwant to show their individuality. God bless you all!

  • Avatar for rosa galyean

    rosa galyean

    says:

    It’s refreshing to know this turned out well for this young native of these United States.Especially when so many other’s have been infiltrating and demanding we respect their traditional ways.! I hope this young man will know that not all school’s or people of white decendent’s are racist or bad.!!Of course the parent’s were put on the spot,but all turned out well.!!! Yootva

  • Avatar for Gene Peck

    Gene Peck

    says:

    While I find the actions of the school disturbing, bless this family for the stand they made. The letter from the Seneca Nation was excellent!

  • Avatar for Charlotte snipes

    Charlotte snipes

    says:

    It’s sad that the world has come to the point of bashing hair cuts when there are so many more important and urgent needs in the world

  • Avatar for Kristina Zallinger

    Kristina Zallinger

    says:

    Let the People be. They are only being themselves…

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