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OCTOBER 11, 2000

Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer will see his demise once again.

But this time, it won't be a re-enactment of the Battle of Little Bighorn in which Custer faces his last stand. Its a performance by a high school band in Spokane, Washington, that will see a certain death.

In response to a complaint by an American Indian student, school officials have decided to allow the Lewis and Clark High School to perform its rendition of the historic 1876 battle two more times this week. After that, the band won't perform "The Death of Custer" at school activities anymore.

But in the final two performances, students won't be dressing up as Indians sporting bows, beads, blankets, and braids. They also won't perform a "war dance" after defeating Custer.

"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," states a district press release. "We have learned from our mistake."

Dylan Lodge, a member of the Gros Ventre Tribe of Montana and a student of another high school in Spokane, had complained about the band's 6-and-a-half minute melodrama. She said the portrayal of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow warriors who defeated the US Army was inaccurate and "gaudy."

In response, school district officials, Indian leaders, and the school band met to discuss the performance. They watched a videotape of the performance which was taped last month at a football game which Lodge attended.

The band agreed to modify its routine and will only depict the US Army. They will perform it at a football game on Friday and at a regional band competition on Saturday.

Relevant Links:
Lewis and Clark High School - www.sd81.k12.wa.us/lewis-clark

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