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Oct 31, 2023

Native students wear heritage on robes during 2023 Anderson graduation

Certain blue robes of the graduating high school seniors at Anderson High School

Certain blue robes of the graduating high school seniors at Anderson High School on Thursday stood out like masterfully crafted art pieces designed with seashells, beads and feathers.

The robes were designed to honor the eight Anderson students of North American tribal descent who were about to walk across the stage at Bob Reid Stadium and receive their diplomas on June 8.

Regalia included a sash with a wave-like pattern worn around the shoulders, while a goose feather was attached to the graduation cap. Some grads wore necklaces.

It was important for Anderson graduate Jazmine Glass to show faculty and other students why her heritage is important. Glass is descended from the Mescalero Apache located in south-central New Mexico and the Lenni Lenape tribe, which originally occupied the lands in modern day Philadelphia.

"It's important to represent who I am because two in three indigenous children graduate and all three of my mother's children graduated," Glass said. "I'm trying to represent who I am."

Glass aspires to work in cosmetic medicine.

"I'm going to be a cosmetic nurse so I'm going to do Botox and lip color," Glass said. "I'm going to go to Shasta College for two years and then transfer to Simpson University."

Anderson's Alex Thomas, of Pit River and Yurok descent, wore rocks and beads representing the colors of his two shared nations.

"The regalia represents the peace of the tribes," Thomas said. "It's just important to show off my colors and show off my culture."

Thomas said he'll attend Shasta College and wants to become a child psychologist.

"I want to help children in need and children who have mental issues," Thomas said.

This gallery contains more photos of Thursday's graduation ceremony at Anderson High School.

Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.