Lakota family settles lawsuit against Nebraska school district over haircuts

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Native American family in Nebraska has settled a lawsuit filed after a school employee cut their children’s hair without permission.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which has been representing the family, announced the settlement on Wednesday.

Under the agreement entered in federal court, Cody-Kilgore Unified Schools will prohibit employees from cutting students’ hair without written permission from their parents or guardians.

Alice Johnson and Norma LeRoy sued the district in 2021 arguing that the haircuts violated their Lakota religious beliefs.

The family and the school negotiated for more than a year to settle the lawsuit, the ACLU said.

The settlement includes monetary damages for the family.

Cody-Kilgore is also required to train staff on Native American culture and to recognize Native American Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples Day.

The terms of the settlement last five years.

Cody-Kilgore Superintendent Ryan Orrock said in a statement to Channel 8 that the district was ready to go to court if needed.

“Instead, both parties agreed to resolve the litigation by modifying a board policy and handbooks and supplementing its existing training and programming for students and staff,” he said. “The school’s insurance carrier provided a financial settlement to the family, as well. Litigation is costly and time consuming. This resolution allows the school to end the litigation in the way that best serves our current students, staff, and community.”

Johnson testified in February for a bill that would have prohibited discrimination in school dress codes and grooming policies.

She said in a statement Wednesday that “every child in Nebraska” deserves respect for their religion and culture.

“In our culture, we believe our hair is our essence,” she said. “And although that part of my children has been taken from them, I am at peace knowing that school officials will never cut the hair of a child ever again.”