Finding Mountains with Music: Growth and Spiritual Transcendence in a U.S. Prison

Resulting in pervasive feelings of despair, the culture incarceration U.S. relies on punitive correctional strategies such as solitary confinement to control behavior incarcerated individuals. Inevitably, which focuses primarily punishment is dysfunctional, rife with gang violence, drug use, suicide, and violence perpetuated by against staff. Our dialogic essay voiced (a) a currently incarcerated, Native American person who has survived spiritual drain castigating culture; (b) music educator founded prison choir for both non-incarcerated individuals an effort erode transform some revengeful structures US incarceration. We draw from Indigenous educator, language specialist, member Lil’wat First Nation, Dr. Lorna Williams’ research Knowledge our efforts understand relationships among group singing, spirituality, experiences Oakdale choir. dialogue charts search healing unsympathetic atmosphere offers experience-based account ways singing can function medium growth environments conflict.