Mandan Middle School celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day with special performance
Students stand to show respect, listen to Lakota Flag Song
Indigenous Democracy Reporter
Singer Jermaine Bell performs the Lakota Flag Song to unite Native and non-Native students during International Peoples Day on Oct. 9. Photo credit/ Adrianna Adame
Nearly a thousand students stood on the bleachers, listening to singer Jermaine Bell’s performance during an assembly at Mandan Middle School for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
“We all stand united, regardless of who we are and the color of our skin – we are all one people,” Bell said.
Travis Albers, the cultural and wellness advocate for Mandan Public Schools, invited Bell to sing the Lakota Flag Song at the middle school in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This is Mandan Public Schools’ first cultural celebration of the holiday.
“Doing something like this was significant for our district because we’ve never done anything like this,” said Albers. “It’s nice to show our administration that we can have something like this to support our Native kids, as well as show other kids our ceremonies, language and culture.”
More than 900 students attend grades 6-8 at Mandan Middle School, currently MPS’ only middle school. American Indians are reported to be the school’s largest minority population at 8.3%.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday that celebrates American Indian and Alaskan Native resilience, perseverance and courage since colonization. The 500th anniversary of Columbus arriving in the Americas on Oct. 12, 1492 marked the first observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday in Berkeley, Calif. in 1992.
“We all stand united, regardless of who we are and the color of our skin – we are all one people,”
Travis Albers, Cultural and wellness advocate for Mandan Public Schools
The White House’s 2023 proclamation acknowledges the cultural genocide and forced assimilation of Natives through “shameful” policies in the United States. President Joe Biden thanked tribal communities and Indigenous peoples across the country for their contributions, which include serving the US military more than any other ethnic group.
Students stood as a sign of respect once Bell began to sing and drum.
The Lakota Flag Song is the anthem of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Originally, the song was intended to be an anthem for American Indians who fought in World War I. Ellis Chips, Ben Black Elk and other Oglala Sioux are thought to have created the song to honor veterans. Nowadays, Bell said, the song is sung during powwows, basketball games and other cultural events.
“It talks about our forefathers and how they want to unite everybody,” said Bell. “Because he made it while he was at war, it was very significant for the people at the time. And when he came back from the war, he sang for people.”
Bell said that he felt honored to come out to sing for the students. He used this opportunity to educate non-Natives about the history of the song, pass on knowledge to the younger generation and uplift Native students during Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “It really means a lot for me to come out here to share just a little bit so they can understand,” Bell said.
Albers and Bell are planning to collaborate again for Indigenous Peoples’ Day next year to continue sharing the joy that comes from the holiday. “We’re still here and we’re bringing awareness,” Albers said.