More than 900 instruments donated to reservation schools

PINE RIDGE, S.D. (AP) — High schools across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation have received more than 900 donated musical instruments as part of a program created by the rock band Widespread Panic. A nonprofit organization, Conscious Alliance, brought the most recent delivery to Pine Ridge High School Wednesday where students in the music program helped unload the instruments. The collaboration between Widespread Panic’s “Tunes for Tots” program and Conscious Alliance began two years ago when they met with music teachers and Lakota culture teachers to expand students’ access to instruments. Red Cloud High School, Crazy Horse High School and Little Wound High School are also receiving instruments through the program.