Aloysius Dreaming Bear, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, has to wear a cap and gown to his public school graduation ceremony, a federal judge ruled.

Dreaming Bear, 19, wanted to wear a ribbon shirt with beaded cuffs and armbands, beaded moccasins, a medallion, an eagle fan, a feather and a beaded medicine bag to graduation this Friday. After school officials denied his request, he filed a lawsuit in federal court.

Judge Jeffrey Viken said Dreaming Bear didn't prove his First Amendment rights were being violated. But the decision won't have much of an impact because Dreaming Bear won't be attending the ceremony due to the death of his grandfather.

"I would have gone" to the graduation ceremony, Dreaming Bear told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader. "And I suppose, if I'm required to, I would have worn the cap and gown. But now I'm going to attend my grandfather's services."

Get the Story:
Oelrichs graduate will skip ceremony because of death in family (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/19)
Judge: Oelrichs student must wear cap and gown at graduation (The Rapid City Journal 5/19)

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Letter: Support traditional clothing at graduation ceremony (5/18)
Lakota student in court for traditional dress at graduation (5/4)
Oglala student can't wear traditional dress at graduation (4/12)