Sand Springs starts a drum group for native students

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — The Sand Springs Public School District is shining a spotlight on Native students.

This year, as part of a new program, they are learning to play drums and sing. India’s education director said the drum group connects students with their culture.

Each drum beat is like a heartbeat connecting the group with the culture it so proudly represents.

Jeremy GoodEagle is an Osage drum maker who volunteers to teach drumming and singing to Native youth in the Sand Springs Public School District.

“That drum roll encouraged me to do my best, to work hard, and also to help others and want to be there for people,” GoodEagle said.

He hopes to pass on the knowledge he has acquired to his students.

“I think it’s pretty cool that they added a drum program to Indian Ed,” said 10th-grade student Zach. “I think it would be a pretty cool opportunity for other Native Americans to be a part of it.”

Zach, Jackson and Cole plan to join a drum group.

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“How they do it, how everything is synchronized and stuff like that. To me, it’s special how they can just hang in there with each other,” said Jackson, a 10th-grader.

They want to learn crafts and connect with their culture, which is their main goal, according to India Education Director Lauren Rowley.

“It would be a connection for students that they wouldn’t normally have because we provide it,” Lauren Rowley said. “We provide a drum and provide an elder who passes on his knowledge to all our children.”

She says these groups exist in many other schools in Oklahoma, but she is excited that her students will now have the opportunity to learn and grow.

“We would like to preserve our culture and teach our youth what we still have so that they can pass it on to future generations,” GoodEagle said.

Their first training will take place on October 30.

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