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Weekly Drum Group Meets In Pennington County Jail

Pennington County Sheriff's Office

The Pennington County Jail recently reinstated their spiritual drum group. The program was originally developed in the 1990s. It allows inmates to stay connected to their culture by meeting weekly to play traditional music.

A group of inmates gathered in chairs surrounding a drum. They went around the circle and each said a prayer before they began to play their music.

The drum group meets once a week for an hour. They teach each other techniques and practice traditional Native American songs. Wayne Featherman is one of the musicians. He said the group is healing.

“In our ways, before we come and start singing in the drum, we all pray. We give thanks to the drum, we give thanks to our voices because, you know, our voices are the ones that are out there and getting heard. It’s pretty exciting whenever you get into it and praying and hearing other people’s voices and their songs and whatnot. It’s pretty, pretty alight in a way I guess. It’s just about being with your brothers and helping them sing and stuff, you know,” Featherman said.

He said enjoys the opportunity to teach young inmates how to drum. He says for some playing the drums is not only freeing but a way to have their voice heard.

Click play bellow to hear full songs.

081315-JailDrums-FullSong.mp3