ACLU demands Kansas school change policy that allegedly forced Native American child to cut his hair
After an 8-year-old Native American boy was allegedly forced to cut his hair, the ACLU is demanding that an elementary school rescind a hair-length policy it says constitutes religious and sex-based discrimination
Nov. 19, 2023
By Mike Gagliardi
The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that a Kansas elementary school repeal a policy it says forbids boys from wearing long hair after an 8-year-old Native American student was allegedly forced to cut his or be sent home.
In a letter sent Friday to R.V. Haderlein Elementary School in Girard, Kansas, the ACLU said that the boy in question, a member of the Wyandotte Nation, grew his hair out last summer after attending his nation’s Gathering of the Little Turtles, where he saw other Native men wearing their hair long.
This allegedly violated Haderlein’s “Boy’s Hair Length” policy — a policy that does not apply to girls at the school.
As a result, the ACLU says, the boy was told in August he needed to cut his hair or be sent home until he does.
Haderlein Elementary School in Girard, Kan.Google Maps
According to the letter, his mother visited the school in early September to request an exemption, even offering to show documentation proving the child’s Native heritage.
She was informed there were no exemptions, the ACLU says, and after numerous failed attempts to contact the superintendent, she made the decision to have her child’s hair cut so he could keep attending school.
“Because he made the decision to wear his hair long in accordance with his Native American spiritual and cultural tradition,” the letter states, “cutting his hair in this manner caused him distress.”
The ACLU maintains that this policy as applied to the child violates state and federal law, and constitutes religious as well as sex-based discrimination.
"Requiring him to cut his hair to attend school imposes a substantial burden on his faith practice because, in and of itself, it violates his religious beliefs," the letter states.
It also promotes "rigid views of gender norms and roles," and is unlawful because "schools may not impose different requirements on students based on their sex without an exceedingly persuasive justification."
The policy is particularly troubling, the letter says, given the historical context of Indian boarding schools in this country, which stripped Native American children of their identities by, among other abuses, cutting their hair.
The letter urges the school district to rescind the hair-length policy in its entirety, or grant an immediate exception to the Native American child.
It asks the school to let the ACLU know by Dec. 1 whether it plans to honor this request.
The school could not immediately be reached for comment.
After an 8-year-old Native American boy was allegedly forced to cut his hair, the ACLU is demanding that an elementary school rescind a hair-length policy it says constitutes religious and sex-based discrimination
Nov. 19, 2023
By Mike Gagliardi
The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that a Kansas elementary school repeal a policy it says forbids boys from wearing long hair after an 8-year-old Native American student was allegedly forced to cut his or be sent home.
In a letter sent Friday to R.V. Haderlein Elementary School in Girard, Kansas, the ACLU said that the boy in question, a member of the Wyandotte Nation, grew his hair out last summer after attending his nation’s Gathering of the Little Turtles, where he saw other Native men wearing their hair long.
This allegedly violated Haderlein’s “Boy’s Hair Length” policy — a policy that does not apply to girls at the school.
As a result, the ACLU says, the boy was told in August he needed to cut his hair or be sent home until he does
According to the letter, his mother visited the school in early September to request an exemption, even offering to show documentation proving the child’s Native heritage.
She was informed there were no exemptions, the ACLU says, and after numerous failed attempts to contact the superintendent, she made the decision to have her child’s hair cut so he could keep attending school.
“Because he made the decision to wear his hair long in accordance with his Native American spiritual and cultural tradition,” the letter states, “cutting his hair in this manner caused him distress.”
The ACLU maintains that this policy as applied to the child violates state and federal law, and constitutes religious as well as sex-based discrimination.
"Requiring him to cut his hair to attend school imposes a substantial burden on his faith practice because, in and of itself, it violates his religious beliefs," the letter states.
It also promotes "rigid views of gender norms and roles," and is unlawful because "schools may not impose different requirements on students based on their sex without an exceedingly persuasive justification."
The policy is particularly troubling, the letter says, given the historical context of Indian boarding schools in this country, which stripped Native American children of their identities by, among other abuses, cutting their hair.
The letter urges the school district to rescind the hair-length policy in its entirety, or grant an immediate exception to the Native American child.
It asks the school to let the ACLU know by Dec. 1 whether it plans to honor this request.
The school could not immediately be reached for comment.
Colorado Hospital Finally Admits to Cutting Lakota Elder’s Hair Without His Permission
Art Janis' family and AIM members outside of UCHealth Hospital in Aurora, Colo. on Nov. 9, 2023, seeking justice. (Photo/Courtesy Keith Janis)
- BY LEVI RICKERT
The UC Health Hospital in Aurora, Colorado on Friday finally admitted that a hospital staff member cut the hair of a 65-year-old Lakota elder Arthur Janis, without his or his family’s permission.
The admission comes after two weeks of questioning by the Janis siblings and a week after members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) protested on grounds of the hospital demanding answers.
Keith Janis, who spoke with Native News Online on Saturday said the hospital lied to him and his family since they began questioning the health facility about when, why and who cut their brother’s waist-length hair. They finally "fessed up" on Friday, according to Keith Janis.
Keith Janis said he filed a police report with the Aurora Police Department late last week. A detective was assigned to the case. The detective did not get far with the hospital staff initially and was told that he would need written permission by the Janis family before the staff could talk to him.
“So, he called and got legal authorization, a legal affidavit granting him authority to access any and all information pertaining to my brother Art since he’s been at the hospital,” Keith Janis said.
Keith Janis granted the detective the legal authorization.
“The very next morning, Colorado University Hospital called and said that they finally confessed, They decided they weren't going to lie to us anymore. They, in fact, cut Art’s hair,” Keith Janis said. He was told hospital cut his brother's hair so that he would not get bed sores. So, they cut it and threw his hair away.
Art Janis, who is a traditional Lakota, who does not believe in cutting his hair had worn his hair long since he was a child. A sister discovered Art's hair was cut short during a video call to discuss his ongoing treatment with UCHealth staff.
Art Janis has been under the care of UCHealth since he was flown from Rapids City, South Dakota in August. Art Janis was first admitted to care a hospital in Rapid City for abdominal pains caused by blood clots. The Rapid City hospital could not provide the adequate medical treatment, so Art Janis was sent to UCHealth.
While under the care of UCHealth, he experienced a heart attack and a stroke. The stroke prevented him from speaking and his siblings have been making medical deicsions on behalf of their brother.
Keith Janis, who lives in Kyle, South Dakota, wants to get back to Colorado early next week to be by his brother as the family decides the next steps to take, if any, against UCHealth.
"It's really hard to get things done here in South Dakota. I'm trying to actually raise money to get back to Colorado. I think people are having a really hard time, too," Keith Janis said.
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, Keith Janis started a GoFundMe account to raise funds for travel to do more investigative work related to Art Janis' hair being cut without his persmission.
UCHealth was named by U.S. News & World Report as the best hospital in Colorado for 2022-2023
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