A dispute over whether seniors' caps for graduation at Shead High School could be decorated with articles of cultural or religious significance escalated quickly online and was diffused just as fast by the decision of school administrators, following discussions with tribal officials, to change their rules and allow the additions to the mortarboards.
      Dwayne Tomah, a Passamaquoddy culture bearer, says that some of the Passamaquoddy students who were graduating at Shead wanted to wear beadwork on their graduation caps. He notes that the elaborate beadwork with cultural designs is an important part of tribal culture. "It's very important to exemplify who they are and share their culture with others," he says. "It's self-expression. They are proud of who they are." Noting that Cipelahq Ehpicik drum group performed during the ceremony on June 5, he says the cultural components to the ceremony "brought a deeper understanding of one another and a building of relationships."
      However, the day before the graduation ceremony he heard that the addition of the beadwork to the caps was not going to be allowed, so he went to the school the next day to find out more. "Because of how Indigenous people have been treated for a long time, our first impression was that it was racially motivated. But the more we looked into it, we found it was not racially motivated."
      He says that Principal Melissa Mitchell's leadership was profound. "She immediately intervened and made the decision" with other staff members that the cultural additions should be allowed. The school administration "was very responsive and responsible," Tomah says.
      In a June 5 letter, Mitchell wrote, "At Shead High School, we are committed to honoring the voices, traditions and identities of all our students – and to ensuring that every student feels seen, valued and celebrated. We sincerely apologize that students, their families and their communities have felt unseen or as though their traditions were not honored. That is not the school we strive to be."
      She noted that the previous practice that caps not be decorated was put in place because of instances where inappropriate or vulgar messages distracted from the ceremony. "We are deeply sorry for feelings of exclusion that this practice may have caused." After review of the rule, the school has "decided to move forward with a change that allows our students to celebrate their identify and heritage. Students are now welcome to decorate their graduation caps as part of their celebration." She added, "We recognize the long-standing presence, sovereignty and cultural significance of Indigenous communities on this land, and we wholeheartedly welcome expressions of identity, heritage and tradition during Class Day and graduation."
      Passamaquoddy Chief Amkuwiposohehs Bassett of Sipayik expressed his support for the high school, adding, "I believe that our students are safe and supported at Shead and the school is doing the right thing today."
      Tomah feels it will be important to have a follow-up session with the graduates, with guidance from trained professionals, to discuss how the experience affected them. While he agrees that offensive or vulgar messages should not be allowed on graduation caps, he says, "You should be able to put cultural and religious beliefs" on them.
      "This was a good result of communicating, working together and a partnership where we could resolve this immediately without creating hate or discontent," says Tomah. "We're neighbors."