There are 574 federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Native Villages in what is now the United States. Dozens of these native nations were represented at the Native Graduation night for Federal Way Public Schools on Thursday, May 29.

The annual event celebrated Native students graduating from 5th, 8th and 12th grades and was held at Olympic View Elementary, 2626 SW 327th St.

Drumming was provided by Xavier Byers (Lakota) who graduated from Career Academy at Truman Campus a few years ago. He was mentoring the next generation of drummers, and throughout the night, had at least one young person half his size helping him out.

Each group of graduates received awards.

5th graders received a paddle necklace, 8th graders received a rattle, and seniors were wrapped in a blanket

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