Tribal Drum Group Blocked from Participating at Hinckley-Finlayson Graduation

Students in the Hinckley-Finlayson School District walked out Wednesday protesting a decision by the district school board that would eliminate a tribal drum group from participating during graduation ceremonies.

The school board voted on Monday to not allow it or other extracurricular groups to participate. The board said the decision was based partly on advice from the district’s attorney, who cited the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment concerning religion.

Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin said 21 students from the band are graduating from the school and requested the drum group perform a travel song. Benjamin reacted to the decision in a video address.

“[The Establishment Clause] talks about under the Constitution that government and church should not overlap and it should be separate. And what the attorney stated is that because it is a cultural norm, that it is considered religion based on the attorney’s definition that school board hired, which is totally not the case and they have it wrong.”

She continued by saying that she sent a letter addressed to the school board and also talked to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, to Gov. Tim Walz’s office, and to Sen. Tina Smith’ office on the matter.

“Work is being done on that as well to educate the school board and make them understand that their decision is not proper. And it’s very shameful in a sense that they don’t want to honor or recognize American Indian students at school.”

Hinckley-Finlayson Superintendent Brian Masterson said in a statement that the decision wasn’t made lightly, and the drum group was offered access to the school’s fine arts center to perform following the May 24th ceremony.