The Giving of Symbolic Vigil names

Native American names are very symbolic. They have no sir or family parts as European names do, thus they do not indicate a person’s parentage. Generally Native Americans had three types of names; birth names, nicknames, and honor or public names. Birth names are those given at birth. The stereotypical ideas that a child was name after the first noticeable thing the mother saw after its birth, or after an event occurring near the birth seldom happened. Many times the child was simply called by birth order, such as; first-born son, first-born daughter and so on. A nickname usually came from some odd characteristic or humorous act of the child, one that would that would take before the owner would be aware of it.

The honor or public name is a conferred name given by someone of importance. Such a name usually indicates a distinguishing character or deed by an ancestor or himself. If the deed was done by him self it was sometimes called the deed name. These are the types of names that are used for Vigil names in the Order of the Arrow.

Much care should be given when choosing a Vigil name for someone. It should be honorable, based on a person’s qualities, talents, traits, and ambitions. It should not be humorous, ridiculous, or insinuating. It should follow basic Native American name giving customs. Under such conditions, it should be a distinguishing name.

Traditionally, the Order of the Arrow draws upon the North American Indian culture, principally the Lenni-Lenape Tribe, for their Vigil names. However, in special instances you could draw from other cultures like South Pacific Island cultures for Vigil names when there is personal heritage connection. The Order holds an understanding that not all Native American tribes have the same culture, beliefs, and languages, so you can draw from any of them, but encourages you to draw from one near you.

OA Native American Regalia

One of the highlights of the Order of the Arrow is its use of Native American attire.  It is one of the most exciting parts of the program to some members; in fact it’s what brings many into the program. Still few realize the cost involved in acquiring Native American regalia.

The cost, while it should not be a factor in active participation in the order, sometimes gets in the way of becoming active in the ceremony and dance portions of it. A well made Native American Dance outfit normally costs about $150, even if substitute and imitation materials are used. That’s a lot of money for a 14-year-old. An Order of the Arrow Ceremonial outfit can cost more or less, depending on if “found and rebuilt” items are used, or if real leather, like in Utah Valley, is used. Your regalia needs not be complete to be used in ceremonies, either.

While O-A members are encouraged to adopt the lore or attire of tribes local to them. The easiest and cheapest costumes to make are the Apache, the Pueblo, and Navajo of the southwest cultural area, but these tribes are not near most members areas. The Western Plains Cultural Area is the most wanted regalia and it takes time and money to build. Something is needed in the mean time.

You may try and borrow regalia from most lodges, chapters, or Advisors until you decide which direction you want to take with your own regalia. Just remember that whenever you borrow regalia, from what ever the source, you need to provide your own earth tone shorts and moccasins for sanitary reasons.

Most O-A members acquire their regalia from many sources. Not everyone can bead, sew, or do feather work. Thus, some items are bought, some are given as gifts for Christmas, birthdays, and other holidays, and some are made by other members of family.

OA Native American Awareness

 “When people of one culture meet those of another, it helps if both know what behavior is acceptable, which words will smooth communication and which should be avoided.”

(Suzanne Walson, “Sharing a Heritage,” Scouting, Nov-Dec 1997.)

As members of the Order of the Arrow, that’s based on American Indian customs and traditions, we should remember that we are participating in a culture that is not our own. Although it’s part of the history of America, and should be preserved, we are just visitors, gaining a greater understanding and appreciation through participation. Most Native American Tribes consider some items and dances holy and sacred. They consider some words and Indian stereotypes offensive.  We should always remember that we, of the order, are a bridge between cultures and should act in a way that promotes friendship and understanding between peoples.

For this reason it is not appropriate for Order of the Arrow members to use words that are offensive, to use Native American religious Items as part of our regalia, nor should we dance Native American Religious Dances. Remember that we are not pretending to be Native Americans; our purpose is to enjoy some of their dancing, crafts, and traditions. We should not copy any one else’s regalia. We should not paint our faces, and we should not use items from endangered or protected species, for obvious reasons.

Class B Uniforms

            Uniforms have always have been a part of scouting. It is the saga of Scouting. It means that a scout belongs; it stands for service and character. The tan and green field uniform is a well-known symbol of American scouting. Yet in common usage, there are three types of Scout Uniforms; the Field, Dress, and Activity. The Field uniform, the classic Kaki Uniform should be worn when the meetings are directed at young people. The Dress Uniform should be worn when working with non-uniformed groups and council excusive boards, and formal scouting functions.





The Activity uniform, which is often a t-shirt customized just for the troop, camp or activity are appropriate for work projects, sporting activities, and other events in which the other uniforms might get damaged. The Field and Activity uniforms are often referred to as Class A and Class B uniforms but that military terminology not correct for Scout Uniforms. BSA wants us to call them Field and Activity uniforms.



The Activity uniform style seems to be seeing more frequent usage. But the problem here is that most boys wear only the T-shirt part of this uniform. If you don’t have the pants/shorts part of the uniform then it is not a uniform, it’s just a t-shirt with scout logo. You can’t salute the flag without the official pants/shorts. The instant belonging with the program is gone without scout pants/shorts. Wearing the shirt alone is not “in uniform.”



“Mafuzziwogs”

“Mafuzziwogs” are small homemade items that represent a person, their community, or their background, that scouts trade at world and national events. Well that’s what Baden-Powell called them, when they were first used to represent some hospitalized scouts that could not attend 1924 Imperial Jamboree at Wembly, England. They became very poplar before the invention of modern patches and pins, for trading and introducing one Scout to another, especially in the 1940's and 1950's.

There are a few rules for giving or trading these little trinkets, tokens, or mementos; they should tell or represent something about the givers, the group, the country, the community, or local Scout continent. They should be inexpensive in nature. Time should be taken to know a little about whom you trade. And a handshake should always follow the trade.

In Girl Scouts these are called SWAPs. In more recent years, the name has become an acronym for, “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.” In Boy Scouting there is no set word for them, although I heard the term “trades” fairly often and more recently the term “Swag” just like in Geocaching. Trading is and will be forever part of scouting sprit of friendship and camaraderie.

Scout Spirit Ashes

Legend has it that lord Baden-Powell would always take a small amount of cool ashes from the night be fore’s campfire and spread them into the next campfire as part of its opening. This tradition began during his days in the British Army. He did this until his death on January 8th, 1941. Its purpose, he said, was to bring all Scouts and Scouters the international aspect of the world brotherhood of scouting.

Other scouts and Scouters would place the end of their staves in the fire's embers to hold on to the spirit felt there and help them remember the event. Some feel that the ashes themselves contain the essence of the scout spirit they felt as the campfires' brilliant flames turned to glowing embers. Thus, ashes taken from a campfire and sprinkled into the flames of the next could have a written pedigree through scout spirit and brotherhood.

Normally it is traditional that only those present at the campfire ceremony carry those ashes, when stirred and cooled, to the next fire. If by chance, more than one scout or Scouter brings ashes to the same campfire, the pedigree lists are pooled, with all dates and places recorded and passed on. In many places all those who wish to participate or carry away ashes must each bring a small stick, pinecone or acorn for the fire, and bring their own container.

A charge should be included in the ceremony when these old ashes are sprinkled into the new flames of your fire. Any ceremony or charge can be used. This charge is rumored to be written by B-P himself and could be added to any ash ceremony. "We carry our friendship with us in these ashes from other campfires with comrades in other lands. May the joining of the dead fires with the leaping flames symbolize once more the unbroken chain that binds scouts and guides around the world." . . . "With greetings from scouts of all nations everywhere."