Native students fight to wear traditional regalia at graduation

Nyché Andrew, an Alaska Native student who is Yup’ik and Iñupiaq, wore her traditional Yup’ik headdress at her graduation from Service High School in Anchorage. “My Yup'ik headdress is important to me since it makes me feel connected to my family and culture,” she said.

A close-up of Nyché Andrew’s sealskin stole as she graduates from Service High School in Anchorage.

Eighteen-year-old Nyché Andrew sits with other members of the class of 2021 at her socially distanced, outdoor graduation in Anchorage.

Nyché Andrew of Anchorage, who is Yup’ik and Iñupiaq, has advocated for Native students’ right to wear regalia to their high school graduation since she was in 10th grade. Her traditional Yup’ik headdress is made of sealskin, beaver and wolf fur and trimmed with black and gold beads.

Nyché Andrew at her high school graduation from Service High School in Anchorage, Alaska.

Nyché Andrew wore mukluks that are adorned with a beaded design with splashes of turquoise and pink to her graduation from Service High in Anchorage, Alaska, in May. She had the beadwork recreated based on a pattern made by her great grandmother.