2008 Woodie Awards
Native American Ken Laffoon plays rare clay flute for students
Inga Locke
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Gallery
To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, Southwest Baptist University invited Lakota Sioux Native American Flute player Ken Laffoon to come to the University to perform for students Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Laffoon's Native American name is Spirit Wolf. He is from Louisburg and also works as a makeup artist and travels to preach at various churches and on multiple Native American reservations.
Laffoon played a variety of flutes for students. One of the flutes played by Laffoon was a clay flute found near the Cahokia Mounds outside of St. Louis, Ill. This flute is one of the few functioning clay flutes in the world today and dates back 5000-7500 years ago. All of Laffoon's flutes were gifts.
Laffoon spoke in between all of the songs that he played. He related a story about miners in California inviting Native Americans to dinner and then poisoning the food to kill them off. His point was that everyone needs Jesus and rather than changing their culture we should meet them where they are to teach them the Word of God.
Junior Krista Juliff also spoke on the differing viewpoints of Thanksgiving. She provided statistics about how many Native Americans died due to diseases that Anglo-Saxons brought with them from Europe. 90 to 96 percent of the tribes of southern New England died from the Plague within three years of the Pilgrim's arrival.
Native Americans had observed an autumn feast for many years before the Anglo-Saxons arrived and the Thanksgiving holiday was not established until Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Juliff provided students with information that some Americans are not taught in modern schools.
Laffoon played several gospel songs and hymns including "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," "Amazing Grace," "Rock of Ages" and "Jesus Loves Me." He brought a new sense of culture and education to the SBU campus not only sharing his talents but teaching the audience about his culture and about faith and missions.
Laffoon's Native American name is Spirit Wolf. He is from Louisburg and also works as a makeup artist and travels to preach at various churches and on multiple Native American reservations.
Laffoon played a variety of flutes for students. One of the flutes played by Laffoon was a clay flute found near the Cahokia Mounds outside of St. Louis, Ill. This flute is one of the few functioning clay flutes in the world today and dates back 5000-7500 years ago. All of Laffoon's flutes were gifts.
Laffoon spoke in between all of the songs that he played. He related a story about miners in California inviting Native Americans to dinner and then poisoning the food to kill them off. His point was that everyone needs Jesus and rather than changing their culture we should meet them where they are to teach them the Word of God.
Junior Krista Juliff also spoke on the differing viewpoints of Thanksgiving. She provided statistics about how many Native Americans died due to diseases that Anglo-Saxons brought with them from Europe. 90 to 96 percent of the tribes of southern New England died from the Plague within three years of the Pilgrim's arrival.
Native Americans had observed an autumn feast for many years before the Anglo-Saxons arrived and the Thanksgiving holiday was not established until Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Juliff provided students with information that some Americans are not taught in modern schools.
Laffoon played several gospel songs and hymns including "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," "Amazing Grace," "Rock of Ages" and "Jesus Loves Me." He brought a new sense of culture and education to the SBU campus not only sharing his talents but teaching the audience about his culture and about faith and missions.
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