"Native American" customs in BSA

[stcyme]

I am researching the uses of Native American customs and traditions within the Boy Scouts. I am looking for references, books, opinion, on the subject. I am also looking for people of Indian tribes who are involved in scouting and their thoughts on the subject.

I am compiling not only these thoughts, but a brief history and explanation of the customs and traditions used. Any comments greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you,

Stacey

[OldGreyEagle]

I am not sure how much about Boy Scouts you know, but check this, its to the "Order of the Arrow" web site. The Order of the Arrow is an Honor organization within Boy Scouts that performs service.

 

http://www.oa-bsa.org/

 

also try the USSSP (United States Scouting Service Project)

 

and search for Order of the Arrow topics and Native American topics, happy hunting

[OldGreyEagle]

 

And the link to the USSSP is:

 

http://www.usscouts.org/GoScouting/start.asp

[eisely]

Stacy,

 

As OGE points out, the Order of the Arrow is the most explicitly native american component of scouting. It is an honor society within scouting that incorporate native american costuming into its ceremonies, and bases its traditions on a legend of the Delaware Indians. Members of the OA often organize indian dance teams and compete with one another.

 

The OA has had some interesting interaction at high levels with native americans that have led to changes in the OA. When I was a boy scout far too many years ago, when the OA would suit up in indian regalia, we would use face paint in a random way. Now, at the suggestion of native americans, the use of face paint in OA ceremonies is prohibited because non native americans did not, and still do not, understand all the symbolism involved.

 

For several decades the OA adopted as its logo a round representation of an indian face wearing a feathered head dress most commonly associated with the plains indians. Somebody suggested that this was not sufficiently general, so that logo was dropped and a new arrowhead logo adopted.

 

There is also an Indian Lore merit badge. You might want to stop by a scout shop and pick up a copy of the pamphlet for this badge. Most merit badge pamphlets are created with the assistance of specialist groups outside of scouting, and these are usually credited in the pamphlet. It would be interesting to know what native american groups may have helped structure this merit badge.