Band Gets Marching Orders District Lets Lc Musicians Have A Last Stand, But Without Indians

Lewis and Clark High School’s marching band must remove all Native American elements from its award-winning half-time show, Spokane School District officials decided Tuesday.

The controversial show will be banned in the district after this year, although the LC band will be allowed to finish its season on Saturday - sans Indian apparel.

“No braids, no beads, no bows or blankets. No nothing,” said Vickie Countryman, District 81’s equity director.

The decision was in response to a complaint filed last week by a Native American student who said she was offended by the Hollywood-styled, stereotypical portrayal of Indian braves in “The Death of Custer.”

District officials met Friday, Monday and Tuesday and consulted with Native American community leaders before making their decision.

“The original script represented a lack of sensitivity because of what Custer symbolizes to Native Americans and because the Native American community was not consulted on the piece itself or the costuming,” Countryman said in a press release. “We have learned from our mistake.”

Band Director Larry Jay said last week that he selected “The Death of Custer,” a unique and technically difficult composition written in 1905, to give the band a competitive edge. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The music recalls the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn, where U.S Army Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and 655 troops attacked an encampment of several thousand Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. During the battle, Custer and more than 200 troopers were killed.

The choreography was developed for the performance this year. Marching band musicians dress up as cavalry soldiers, while the auxiliary team - 12 members who dance to the music - dress as Indian. They wear beads, braids and brown vests and pants.

During the course of the half-time show, they either wave blankets or bows that sport tassels.

At the climax of the performance, the dancers act out a scene in which Custer is shot with an arrow and killed. The student playing Custer fires a cap gun several times in the air before succumbing to the mortal injury. Then, the victorious Indians prance in a circle that symbolizes a war dance.

The band has performed the show twice since school started - first at LC’s football game against Shadle Park High School Sept. 28 at Joe Albi Stadium, and again last Saturday at The Cavalcade of Bands competition in Pasco.

The band won top awards in its division in Pasco. The band will compete this Saturday at Albi in the Pacific Northwest Marching Band Competition. Marching band season coincides with the football season.

The performance first came into question when Shadle student Dylan Lodge, who was at the Albi performance Sept. 28, said she was offended by the portrayal of Indians. Lodge is a member of the Gros Ventre Tribe from Montana.

She attempted unsuccessfully to confront LC’s principal during the game, and later filed a complaint with Pam Austin, coordinator for the school district’s Indian Education Program.

“She came home and said, `Mom, even when we win, we look silly,”’ said Dylan’s mother, Toni Lodge.

Yet, Dylan Lodge does not support the district’s solution.

“I never said that I wanted them to take the Native American element out,” she said. “If that’s how the band won, they should keep it, but just make it more accurate.”

For instance, she pointed out that the Indians fighting Custer’s regiment had guns as well.

“How do you think they won?” she said.

The changes, however, represent the district’s desire to acknowledge its mistake quickly, while not punishing the students, Countryman said.

So, the auxiliary will either be dressed in pants and brown T-shirts or all-black uniforms. Instead of blankets, they’ll wave LC flags to symbolize school spirit, Countryman said.

Other changes are pending. The scene with Custer will be changed, although how has not yet been decided.

The starter pistol used during the show will remain because it is “consistent with props used in other theatrical performances,” according to the district’s release. A one-minute monologue read before the half-time show to explain the history of the music will be extended to include information on the battle, Custer and his impact on native tribes.

“He was not famous, he was infamous,” Countryman said of Custer.

She drafted a script for the revised piece Tuesday evening.

Countryman briefed the band on the costume changes Tuesday afternoon.

“It appeared to go fairly well,” she said. Band members seemed ready to regroup and continue training. “I’m totally OK with all of the changes,” said percussionist Jolyn Gisselberg. She said the changes might take off some of the band’s competitive edge.

“It’s cool that they were willing to work with us,” she said.