Honor Song Group Protests Outside Chamberlain Graduation

CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. (AP) - Members of the Crow Creek and Lower Brule tribes gathered outside the National Guard Armory in Chamberlain to play an American Indian honor song for high school graduates as they filed out of the building.

The school board last week rejected a request to have the honor song played as part of Sunday's commencement ceremony. Board members said a feathering ceremony the night before graduation honors tribal students and that the commencement exercise should be about recognizing academic achievements rather than cultural ties.

Drum circle singer Kevin Wright says the honor song played outside the armory on Sunday was for all of the graduates.

About one-third of the 900 students in the school district are Indian. Crow Creek Chairman Brandon Sazue has called for an economic boycott of the town.

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