Raising Lakota Voices
Donation protected
Incandescent Duo has been accepted to present and perform at the National Flute Association in San Antonio, Texas. Our performance will feature music written by pupils from a composition program on Lakota reservations, as well as a composition by one of their mentors. We plan to help publish and record these works so that other percussionists can purchase and perform them. This way, these pieces could become a revenue source for the students to financially aid themselves through their education.
Many musicians, and humanitarians in general, are making efforts to raise up historically underrepresented populations in music, education, politics, and society. One of the populations in need of support is the Lakota population in South Dakota. It could be argued that Native American music is the only true form of American music because it had no influence from other continents’ traditions. While progressive musicians have made strong attempts to play music by Latino, black, and Asian composers and pay homage to these populations, Native American composers still fall behind in representation in music classrooms. Indigenous Americans make up 5% of the United States population, but only .1% of musicians in professional orchestras. My hope is that by supporting Lakota composers and commissions, musicians can slowly start to give more attention to raising Indigenous voices in music alongside Black and Latino voices. The Lakota people have a long history of generational trauma and today, the Lakota reservations are some of the poorest communities in the nation. Allen County, found on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation, has the lowest per capita income in the United States. The True Sioux Hope foundation shares jarring statistics about Pine Ridge: There is a 70% high school dropout rate. Life expectancy on the reservation is 47 years for men and 52 years for women. Teen suicide rate is 150 times higher than the U.S. national average. The infant mortality rate is the highest on this continent and 300 percent higher than the U.S. national average. These stark statistics share a grim picture of life on Lakota reservations, which is oftentimes overlooked by governing bodies and mainstream society. The solutions to issues on the Lakota reservations are not easy or clear. However, the Lakota Music Project has been making a difference in the lives of young Lakota musicians one individual at a time. This project will perpetuate and support the positive opportunities currently offered to students who participate in the Lakota Music Project.
Many musicians, and humanitarians in general, are making efforts to raise up historically underrepresented populations in music, education, politics, and society. One of the populations in need of support is the Lakota population in South Dakota. It could be argued that Native American music is the only true form of American music because it had no influence from other continents’ traditions. While progressive musicians have made strong attempts to play music by Latino, black, and Asian composers and pay homage to these populations, Native American composers still fall behind in representation in music classrooms. Indigenous Americans make up 5% of the United States population, but only .1% of musicians in professional orchestras. My hope is that by supporting Lakota composers and commissions, musicians can slowly start to give more attention to raising Indigenous voices in music alongside Black and Latino voices. The Lakota people have a long history of generational trauma and today, the Lakota reservations are some of the poorest communities in the nation. Allen County, found on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation, has the lowest per capita income in the United States. The True Sioux Hope foundation shares jarring statistics about Pine Ridge: There is a 70% high school dropout rate. Life expectancy on the reservation is 47 years for men and 52 years for women. Teen suicide rate is 150 times higher than the U.S. national average. The infant mortality rate is the highest on this continent and 300 percent higher than the U.S. national average. These stark statistics share a grim picture of life on Lakota reservations, which is oftentimes overlooked by governing bodies and mainstream society. The solutions to issues on the Lakota reservations are not easy or clear. However, the Lakota Music Project has been making a difference in the lives of young Lakota musicians one individual at a time. This project will perpetuate and support the positive opportunities currently offered to students who participate in the Lakota Music Project.
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Dana LeVan
Organizer
Sioux Falls, SD
Claire James
Team member