Drum group performs honor song after graduation ceremony

Monday, May 20, 2013  

Members of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe performed an honor song for high school graduates in Chamberlain, South Dakota, on Sunday.

The song, however, was not performed during the graduation ceremony. The school board for the Chamberlain School District voted 6-1 against allowing the song despite requests from Indian students.

"All the graduates need to be honored and this is how we do it, this is how we say we appreciate you and we want to thank you for all your accomplishments," Kevin Wright, a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, told KELO-TV.

Indian students make up 28 percent of this year's graduating class in the district and about 40 percent of the entire student body. The school board president said a feathering ceremony for them was enough.

Get the Story:
Tribal Members Protest Chamberlain Graduation After Honor Song Controversy (KELO-TV 5/19)
Chamberlain: Honor song 'should be inside' (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/20)

Related Stories:
Column: Denial of honor song another example of racial bias (5/20)
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe calls for boycott in honor song flap (5/17)
School board won't allow honor song at graduation ceremony (5/14)
Native Sun News: School balks at honor song for graduation (5/6)
Editorial: Allow honor song at school graduation ceremony (04/30)
Indian students push for honor song at graduation ceremony (04/25)