Long hair: A thread. I get a lot of comments on my hair, and while it's something I am known for, what's less known is that my long hair is important to me culturally, too, and the older I get, the more it matters. 120 years ago today, the "haircut order" was issued. More...

January 11, 1902, The Commissioner of Indian Affairs William Atkinson took issue with Native people who continued to practice their traditions, among them, men wearing their hair long. So, he instructed superintendents of reservations to order men to cut their hair.

To ensure compliance, he suggested food be held back. There was public outcry that we should be forced to cut our hair or starve, and so a more "socially acceptable" path was suggested.

They still wanted our ancestors to cut their long hair, but they would feed people while strongly encouraging them to abandon our traditions. With the loss of tradition and language, so goes the loss of the culture.

Over the years, I’ve heard everything from "cut your hair and grow up” to “he’s trying to be a rock star.” I wear my hair long as a proud Yaqui and Cherokee man, and will continue to do so until the day I die.

Native people are still here. We still have traditions. We still honor our ancestors. If you took the time to read this, thank you. #yaqui #cherokee #native #tucson #pasqua #longhair #history