A North Dakota high school issued a groveling apology after white students were filmed mocking a traditional Native American dance at a prom.
The racist protest at Flasher High School prompted nearly a dozen Indigenous students to walk out, including the teen who filmed the incident.
A video shot by Ronnie Carry Moccasin’s son on April 20 shows students imitating the dances and songs typically seen at powwows, ceremonies that honor Native American culture.
Ronnie, whose family is part of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said her 16-year-old son was unable to enjoy his own prom after he got upset and stormed off.
“All the teachers and parents that were there, the chaperones, should never have let this happen,” he told the Bismarck Tribune. “This should never happen. This should never have continued.
Video captured by 16-year-old Lucas shows students at Flasher Public School imitating the dancing and singing typically seen at powwows. Nearly a dozen Indigenous students ended up leaving the dance
Ronnie Carry Moccasin (left) and his wife Mary (right) spoke out after their teenage son left his own prom, where white students mocked a traditional Native American dance.
Sixteen-year-old Lucas and his three sisters dance competitively at powwows.
“The way my boy reacted when he came home, and my little girls, it’s like if this is going to happen again, are we going to make fun of them again?” » said Ronnie.
As the controversy mounted, Superintendent Jerry Erdahl issued a statement insisting that there was never “any intentional intent to disrespect Native American culture.”
“To the Native American people, we offer our sincere apologies,” the statement said.
“Now, for us here at Flasher Public School, the time has come to educate students and staff on issues of cultural sensitivity that can affect the values, morals and beliefs of others. Once again, we are sorry for offending those who were insulted by these actions.
Among the 265 students enrolled in the district are a “significant” number of Native Americans, according to Erdahl.
Flasher Public School quickly removed all mentions of the prom from its Facebook page, and parents received an email informing them that there would be “on-site support with two dedicated crisis counselors » for students in grades six through twelve.
Ronnie said the superintendent apologized to him in a call on April 22, but he believed more needed to be done.
Public School Flasher quickly removed all mentions of the prom from its Facebook page after the videos began circulating online.
The school’s principal, Jerry Erdahl (R), released a statement insisting there was never “any intentional intent to disrespect Native American culture.” However, this incident is just the latest in a series of alleged acts of racism against Indigenous students.
Ronnie expressed concern that this offensive display might deter Lucas and his sisters from participating in dance competitions.
“It’s going to take more than an apology for a lot more people to understand how serious this is for us as Indigenous people,” Ronnie said.
His wife, Mary, first uploaded videos of the incident to Facebook. These circulated quickly, and a The re-uploaded clip has racked up more than 168,000 views.
“Despite what people think, whether it is appreciation or imitation, my son attending FPS is discouraged,” Mary wrote.
“I will not neglect his feelings which are valid and deserve attention. What am I showing him if I haven’t solved the problem?
She called her son “an incredible grass dancer who dances with his heart and takes pride in what he does.”
“No one should ever make them feel mocked and degraded, especially in a place so close to home,” she continued.
Mary, who works at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, vowed to continue speaking out about the incident “for as long as necessary.”
The Flasher Ball was not the first time white students were accused of discrimination against their Native peers.
In January 2023, two Native American players on the Bismarck High boys’ basketball team were subjected to racist taunts, including monkey noises and war cries, during a game in Jamestown.
Their parents filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, kicking off an ongoing case.
After the prom video went viral, Mary shared two more clips showing allegedly racist behavior.
This included a Snapchat story from a girl on the Eureka track team. “The natives will not leave,” the teenager wrote while filming other students who had their backs turned.
In another video, three high school students were seen making fun of a traditional dance in the basement of a house.
A clip shared on social media shows a Snapchat of a high school student at a Eureka track meet, captioned: “The natives won’t leave.”
Teenagers are seen making fun of a traditional dance in the basement of a house in another video.
Mary vowed to continue talking about the incident “as long as it takes” and praised her children for choosing to dance.
“No one should ever make them feel mocked and degraded, especially in a place so close to home,” Mary wrote on Facebook.
Mary continues to advocate for her children despite growing difficulties.
She praised her “babies” in a July 2023 Facebook post featuring a photo of the siblings dressed in traditional clothing during a dance competition.
“One by one, my babies made the choice to want to dance,” she wrote. “I’m so proud of them. They have all my encouragement, support and admiration.
Ronnie plans to speak with an attorney about filing a civil rights lawsuit against the district. “It will take me a long time to recover,” he said.
“I hope this doesn’t take away from what my kids love to do. This is going to stay with me for a while until I resolve it, until I think it’s over.
Efforts have been made to educate students across the state, seemingly to no avail. With the passage of Senate Bill 2304 in 2021, North Dakota schools were required to include Native American history curriculum.
The Ministry of Public Education has been organizing an Indian Education Summit for 10 years. This summer’s conference will provide training sessions for educators on how to integrate Indigenous history and culture into their teaching.
This trend of pervasive racism has caught the attention of local leaders, who say more needs to be done.
State Rep. Jayme Davis, Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille and Nicole Donaghy, executive director of North Dakota Native Vote, expressed concerns about discriminatory conduct against Native American students.
Davis and Finley-DeVille, both Democrats, called on the North Dakota High School Activities Association to better enforce its “zero tolerance policy.”
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