Order of the Arrow

Ney-a-ti Lodge #240

Call-Out Ceremony

 

 

Last Revision: May 12, 1992

Electronic Edition: December 2003

with

Introduction by Jon Musgrave

Lodge Chief, 1987-1989

Pine Ridge Program Director, 1992

and

Forward by Jeffrey Mawdsley

Pine Ridge Summer Camp Staff Member, 1993-1994

Ney-a-ti Chapter 1st Vice-Chief, 1995

Anpetu-We/Ney-a-ti Lodge Merger Committee Member


 Forward

December 14, 2003

My Brothers

The Call-Out Ceremony for many lodges is their most important ceremony. It is the only OA ceremony that is not written by National, and therefore each Lodge’s Call-Out Ceremony is unique. It is a ceremony where a lodge can really "show their stuff." The Call-Out Ceremony can be as intrinsically tied to a Lodge’s identity as the Lodge’s Name, Totem, or Flap.

On January 1, 1995, the Ney-a-ti Lodge was forced to merge with one of the two lodges in the Greater St. Louis Council, either Shawnee #51 or Anpetu-We #100. In 1994, the members of the Ney-a-ti Lodge chose Anpetu-We, however, as time went on, it became clear that the professional staff of the Council at the time did not want a real merger, where members of both Lodges would come together and create a new lodge from scratch. Instead, the council professionals wanted Ney-a-ti to be absorbed, and the limitations they put on the merger made that abundantly clear. There were many provisions that made the Ney-a-ti Lodge’s ability to negotiate difficult, such as the names and number of the both Shawnee and Anpetu-We were to remain the same, and that the Southern Illinois Chapters could not have their own separate funds. Members of the Ney-a-ti lodge realized this, and were therefore reluctant to take part in events and traditions that they were expected to accept wholesale, even though they were not familiar with these new traditions and they had virtually no say in how these traditions were formed. For this reason and more, Scouts and Scouters in Southern Illinois still hold the traditions of the Ney-a-ti Lodge in high esteem, even if they were not in the Ney-a-ti Lodge. And the Ney-a-ti Lodge Call Out Ceremony is an important part of these traditions. This is the complete version of the Ney-a-ti Lodge Call Out Ceremony. It is my hope that by making this available on the World Wide Web that the traditions of the Ney-a-ti Lodge shall be preserved for future Southern Illinois Scouts and Scouters.

This ceremony was very important to those Arrowmen who went through it. Every Lodge member was once a nervous Scout standing on OA Stage on Family Night anxiously waiting for the four winds to call his name. A modified version of this ceremony was used during the Ney-a-ti Lodge’s Fiftieth Anniversary Reunion as a rededication ceremony, although I can’t recall now what those modifications were. The last time this ceremony was performed at Summer Camp was on June 30, 1994. This ceremony was also performed on October 14, 1995 at the Anpetu-We Lodge Officers Training at Pine Ridge. It was hoped at the time that by performing the ceremony at this training weekend, it would show those officers from Southeast Missouri that the Ney-a-ti Lodge had proud traditions that should be honored. It was my privilege to be the narrator for that ceremony, which is how I came into possession of a copy of the Call-Out Ceremony. To my knowledge, it has not been performed since.

The OA handbook states that finding the right setting for the ceremony can add to its impressiveness. That could not be truer than at Pine Ridge Scout Reservation. The ceremony took place in an area of camp where an inlet of Little Grassy Lake is located. Both sides of the inlet featured gentle hills that formed a little valley. On the one side was a natural amphitheater. It had wood benches set up on the side of the hill, and this is where campfires were held. It is also where the parents of the campers sat during the ceremony. The other side of the inlet was known as OA Stage. It had a relatively flat and open area before the hill began. The ceremony took place on the flat spot, with the campers stationed on the hill. The ceremony usually took place at night before sunset, at about 7:00 and 7:30, so no torches needed to be used during the ceremony, and a large fire was not needed for light.

The stage had to be set before hand of course. On the north end of the stage in front of the trail that leads to Family Point was a tipi. In it were most of the props used after the Native Americans landed on shore, the Arrowmen who played the Indians at the beginning of the Ceremony and an Arrowman stationed in there to guide the candidates out of the back of the tipi. Next to the tipi was a stand with the totems that were to be presented to that night’s candidates hanging from it. On the south end of the stage was a settler style tent, usually with two Arrowmen dressed in settlers garb in it.

The fire, which was the narrative highpoint of the ceremony, had to be prepared on the afternoon before the ceremony. A small explosive charge had to be setup in the fire and connected to a copper wire that was buried. The other end of the wire was located behind where the Campers were placed. At the appropriate time, the wire would be connected to a car battery and that would send an electrical current to set off the charge and light the fire (with the help of some liquid fuel propellants). The wire had to be periodically dug up and replaced, as the wire would get shorter for every ceremony performed. A couple of torches should be on hand in case the fire doesn’t light.

There were many behind-the-scenes helpers. The narrator was also situated behind the campers on the hill. A very primitive sound system with a single speaker hung from a tree was used. An extension cord was run from the Troop Lodge to provide electricity. There were four people positioned in the woods as the winds. They were each armed with a copy of the list of Scouts and Scouters to be called out. The East Wind was the first wind to call out the Troop and then the name. He was positioned in the woods to the north of the amphitheater. The South Wind was next, and he was position in the wood to the south of OA Stage. He and the rest of the winds would only repeat the candidate’s name, and not his Troop number. The West wind was positioned behind the candidates up the hill, near the narrator. The north wind was behind the tipi. This created an echoing effect around for the whole area. Finally, an Arrowman was position on the point north of the Amphitheater on the lake. We called this spot Bum’s Beach. They would listen carefully to the ceremony and signal the canoes, which were already stationed just outside the inlet at the appropriate time. In a pinch, the person playing the East Wind could do this as well, as long as he would conceal himself before the names were to be called.

The canoes for the Indians were usually brought to the area known as Family Point well before the ceremony began. This was so that the Arrowman in costume wouldn’t have walk through the whole camp from Sakima Lodge to the Waterfront in costume, but could discreetly walk down Staff Row to get to the canoes. Typically when the Arrowmen were getting into the canoes, one of the senior participants imparted the following words of wisdom: "If you fall out of the canoe, swim casually."

Campers were told that they would be picked up by "runners" at their campsites before the ceremony began (they didn’t actually run). There would be three runners; each dressed in a Native American style costume, stationed at different points of camp, and carrying a lit torch. Each runner would also have an assistant to help him light the torch and to take his clothes so that he could be go to his starting spot without drawing too much attention to himself. The assistant would also have a watch so that all the runners could start at a preset time so all the camp would arrive at the Parade Ground at roughly the same time. Once the runner came by the campsite, he instructed the campers to form a single file line behind him and to remain silent until the ceremony ended. The assistant would follow at the end of the line. They would then follow the runner to the parade ground. The first runner would start at Illini and then move towards the crossroad, where he would turn left at the Crossroads to pick up camp Lewis and Clark, then go to the Parade Ground. The second runner started at the Crossroads and moved east, Picking up Boone, Cherokee, and Bowie. The final runner started at the end of the rifle range road and moved east to pick up Shawnee, Sitting Bull, and Carson. Once the camp was completely assembled at the Parade Field, the flags were lowered and the Campers were lead to OA Stage by a runner in a single file line. Once the campers arrived at OA stage, the campers were aligned in several rows with a significant space between each row. Once they were in position, the campers could sit down, and the runners would depart. Typically at the flag lowering or the very beginning of the Call-Out Ceremony, the new Vigil Honor members were also recognized. The ceremony then began.

During the calling out of names, after the candidate enters the tipi, an Arrowman would direct him to go through the back of the tipi and walk along the trail that leads to Family Point. (Campers on stage could not tell that the candidates had left through the back of the tipi. A common question for those not in the OA was: "Doesn’t the tipi get pretty crowded?" Most members would say that it did and leave it at that.) Once all the candidates were assembled near the red wilderness cabin at family point, an Arrowman stationed there would congratulate them on their election. In accordance with Lodge tradition, the candidates were told to be silent until prayer was said before breakfast the next morning. The Arrowman would then escort the Candidates up to the entrance of Staff Row where he would dismiss them.

The ceremony provided the narrative; the actions on stage would mirror the narration. However, it was never anticipated that the ceremony would go for so long without being performed. This means that many of the little touches that breathed life into the ceremony were not part of the script, but unofficially passed down from year to year. Therefore, I have placed in brackets, where appropriate, a description of what took place on stage during the narration. The text of the ceremony remains unchanged except for some minor spelling corrections.

I will always consider the Ney-a-ti Lodge to be my most cherished lodge. Even though I was a member of Anpetu-We Lodge longer, and I have since moved on to another Lodge, I will always regard the friendships I made and the work I did as a member of Ney-a-ti Lodge as the most meaningful. It is my sincere hope that all future Southern Illinois Scouts and Scouters will view this document as a connection to their past, even if they were never in the Ney-a-ti Lodge. They are the ones that must keep the fire of the Ney-a-ti traditions burning in their own hearts. They are the ones that must keep the memories of the Ney-a-ti Lodge and the accomplishments of it members alive.

Yours in Brotherhood,

 

Jeff Mawdsley


 

Introduction

I first saw the Ney-a-ti Lodge’s Call-Out Ceremony in the summer of 1980. I was a Weblos attending Weblos Camp when it was still held during the last three days of each week of Boy Scout Camp. Besides an old Scoutmaster (Ted Lawless of Murphysboro’s Troop 114) in full uniform with his garters holding up his socks, walking up to the top of Cardiac Hill (it was steeper in those days before the culvert at the bottom was installed) to pick up food from the commissary, going inside the Trading Post during and ice fight (it was also at the top of Cardiac Hill next to the Commissary), spending two miserable nights trying to sleep in my host troop’s supply tent with a broken zipper, my most memorable experience in those two days I was at camp was the OA Tap-Out Ceremony.

It scared me to death. Candidates were not called-out as now, but tapped, slapped, picked-up, dragged, pushed, and just generally demeaned in what was called tradition. In 1983, just in time for my call-out, the ceremony was changed. Nationally, too many incidents were happening that more resembled hazing the honoring. An edict from the national office eliminated the commonplace tap-outs. From thence forward, no touching. Calling-out was the new standard. Calling-out was the new standard.

Only a few lines of text was changed to make the switch from tapping to calling. The big change was in the actions on stage. By eliminating the rough stuff, the "best" part of the ceremony was gone. Under the leadership of Shawn Coumb (Troop 47 of Marion), the lodge chief before me in 1985-1987, and myself when I was chief from 1987 to 1989, the text of the ceremony generally stayed the same, although new action was added to compliment the narration.

Also during this time period, an informal decision was made that has since become established tradition. We decided to make every effort to use every youth Arrowman in camp in the ceremony in some way. Parts were designed to use over 40 Arrowmen each week both on-stage and off. IN 1989, OA Ceremonies at summer camp were expanded with the Brotherhood Ceremony was first offered for summer campers eligible.

During 1989, the Lodge hosted the NC-5 Section Conclave at Camp Ondessonk near Ozark. As part of the evening events on Saturday, the lodge performed a rededication ceremony (1989 was also the OA’s 75th Anniversary) in Ondessonk’s ceremony ring, a box-like canyon with 15-20 foot cliffs on all sides. The Rededication Ceremony was the Call-Out Ceremony with the ending changed to go into a rededication part which included three Indian dances, including the fire hoop dance, the deer dance, and a secular version of the devil dance. With torchbearers, the tipi, and some of the action on top of the cliffs surrounding the 400 plus Arrowmen in attendance, the ceremony was an unforgettable experience. National Chief Jack Stephens remarked afterward that it was the best ceremony he had ever seen.

In 1988, efforts started to clean up the Call-Out Ceremony with its poor grammar in places and somewhat offensive racial terms (such as Red Man and White Brothers). Only a handful of people had ever complained during the 1980’s, but it was felt that the terms could be changed without negatively affecting the ceremony. The grammatical problems was the ceremony’s constant switching back and forth between past tense and present tense, as well as the occasional incomplete sentence. The final changes that were made are new this year.

In 1991, when I was serving as the Assistant Program Director, and narrator of the ceremony, we added three paragraphs to the script right before Chief Allowat Sakima come "out of the north and onto the beach." The addition was made to bridge the long silent gap of narration that occurs as everybody awaits the Arrowmen in the canoes to arrive. The year, the three paragraphs were rewritten and more was added to fill the silence.

If done right, our Call-Out Ceremony can be one of the most impressive ceremonies our campers will ever see. If it is to continue to be so, it will take effort on you part. Thank you.

Together in Brotherhood

Jon Musgrave

1992 Summer Camp Program Director

15 May 1992


 

Ney-a-ti Lodge

Call-Out Ceremony

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the Ney-a-ti Lodge #240, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this Order of the Arrow Call-Out Ceremony

The Order of the Arrow was established in 1915 by the Boy Scouts of America -

To recognize those campers – Scouts, Explorers, and Scouters – who best exemplify the Scouts Oath and Law in their daily lives and by such recognition cause other campers to conduct themselves in such manner to warrant recognition,

To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit,

To promote Scout Camping,

And to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in service to others.

The Order of the Arrow is a Brotherhood of Cheerful Service that embodies the highest ideals of the human spirit. Members are elected by their Scouting Units. They have been regarded by their fellow Scouts and Scouters as worthy of the honor of membership.

We will now proceed with the Ney-a-ti lodge, Order of the Arrow ceremony to identify those Scouts and Scouters to be honored this evening.

CALL-OUT CEREMONY

Many years ago, a tribe of Kaskaskia Indians had their homes of these very grounds where we have been camping for the past week. Chief Allowat Sakima led and counseled his tribe of Indians. He was physically strong and mentally awake – making him a wise counselor, trusted by his people.

[At this point, one of the Arrowmen dressed as an Indian emerges from the tipi with a spear. He makes his way down to the center of OA Stage, and then down to the edge of the lake. He would act like he is fishing as the next paragraph is read]

The warriors and braves hunted deer and bear in the forest and fished in the cooling waters of the streams. Berries and fruits were abundant in season. It was here they pitched their tipis, worked, played, and lived peacefully. They were grateful for the wonderful gifts of nature and used only what was necessary from her bounty. They were a happy, thrifty, and contented people.

[The Indian retreats into the tipi after this paragraph. During the next paragraph two Arrowmen dressed in settlers garb emerge from the woods behind the settler’s tent. One should be carrying a prop musket. The other should have a small old looking jug with water in it.]

Eventually, the Europeans in their quest for land and resources came to this peaceful forest. They too liked this land of peace and plenty. Some found it easy to make friends with the Illiniwek. As time went on more settlers came with their families. [At this point, the other two Arrowmen dressed as Indians should emerge from the tipi carrying pelts of fur and start making their way to the two settlers.] Through treaty and trade, more and more of the land was occupied by the settlers. Although, as history records, some of these transactions were not a credit to the settlers and retribution inevitably followed dishonesty and unfair practice. [As this passage is being read, the two Indians should approach the settlers. The Indians offer the settlers their pelts. The settlers take them, and in return offer the jug. One Indian takes the jug and tastes it. He smiles and stumbles a bit, realizing it is "alcohol" and takes another drink. The second Indian grabs the jug from the first, takes a swig, and then spits out the water at the settlers. He then shoves the jug back into a settler’s arms, and snatches the pelts, obviously displeased with the trade. The two Indians return to the tipi. The two Arrowmen dressed as settlers in the settler’s tent now emerge.]

Shortly after the new settlers acquired possession, there came a time of unusual rainfall. The earth became drenched, the forest soaked and soggy. Soon their fire of the pioneer flickered and smoldered, then went out, one after another, until none were left burning. Without fire the men soon become helpless because there civilization, as ours, depended on fire and its warmth for welfare and comfort.

[There should be a small fire lay in front of the settler’s tent. The two Arrowmen that came from the tent should act like they are trying to light the fire with flint and steel, with no success. Note: don’t have them try to light the main fire, as it should not be lit now. ]

As the rains continued to fall, huger, sickness, and despair increased among the settlers. Death invaded deeper and deeper into the settlement.

[One of the settlers that came from the tent should start shivering as this paragraph is read. Another settler should lead him back to the tent, and put a blanket over him]

One evening those who were able assembled in the village circle to hold council as was their custom in times of despair or danger [the three remaining settlers should gather around the main fire]. Before them bowed deep in thought, stood their leader. With a hopeless look, they gazed upon the unlit, rain soaked firewood. In the silence of their desperation, the beat of the tom-toms reached their ears. [The Arrowmen on Bum’s Beach should now signal the canoes. One of the Arrowmen in the canoes should play a continuous rhythm on the tom-tom, crescendoing until all of the Indians are on shore.] They listened intently. The beating of the tom-toms, like the warning of the rattlesnake, might mean approaching danger; or as experience had proven, it might be the approach of friends. [As the last sentence is read, the settler with the gun points it at the sound of the approaching drum. The leader slowly forces the gun barrel down, as if to say wait and see what happens next]

The primitive rhythm struck the settlers cold, some with worry, some with fear, still other with apprehension. Not for a generation had this beat been heard. Oh, rumors of war had reached the settlement in times past, but their valley of plenty had been blessed with the bounty of peace. Even the great Shawnee Chief Tecumseh had failed to provoke an uprising when he had passed near this land just a few years before.

[The settlers should "talk" among themselves, acting as if they are speculating among themselves who the Indians might be. The narrator should pause between each paragraph, in order for the canoes to make it to the beach]

The war cries of Chief Pontiac had been silenced in the Illinois Country back in the days of their grandfathers. Tecumseh himself had fallen in battle in Canada during the last war with Britain. One of the settlers, a territorial ranger, had seen him fall.

Before the rains had started, the settlers had been hopeful of their future. Statehood was soon approaching. Their country had just won its Second War for Independence. The Nation’s Capital had been rebuilt after suffering from British torches. Even the settlers here in their isolated natural splendor had rebuilt their homes bigger and better after the devastating Great Quakes felt during the war. But without fire, the settlers’ optimism flickered and went out just as the fires’ flames had in the rain.

The beating rhythm was closer now. The settlers stood ready. Whether friend or foe, progress or destruction, change was about to happen. Still, the Indians remained faceless, nameless. Was it Paducah’s descendants leading his tribe of Chickasaw from the south? Or was it the Miami from beyond the Wabash, or the Fox or Kickapoo that still roamed the country north of the Illinois River. Was it the Shawnee whose migration westward had followed the European advances?

Or could it be the Kaskaskia and their Illiniwek cousins? Most of the Illini were gone. Chief Kanda still led a small band who had stayed in the hills and valleys between the Big Muddy and the Mississippi, but the great chief Allowat had left taking his tribes and leaving the land to the settlers. He had not been seen since, and that was when the pioneer had still been a boy. Still, the tom-toms kept beating.

Approaching the shore were the canoes of more Indians then most of the pioneer had ever seen. The beating was louder now and the faces were now visible. To the leader, one looked familiar.

[The narrator should pause here until the first canoe makes landfall.] Out of the north, on to the beach, came Chief Allowat Sakima and his people [The canoes should unload. The Indians in the tipi should also emerge carrying the items described below, and prepared to hand them to Great Thunder and One Feather. Once all of the Inidans are on shore, the drummer should hit the drum with three loud, successive beats, and the stop. The Indians should arrange themselves on the shore. Allowat should be in the center flanked by Great Thunder, Little Chief with his spear, and One Feather. The rest of the Indians should be behind him. Once the Indians are all in place the narrator should pause for a moment, letting everything be silent.] Everything was still and silent. The Chief raised his right arm in a gesture of friendliness [The Ordeal Sign] and gave the Illini’s Greeting. The Pioneer Leader returned this friendly sign in silence.

Up stepped Great Thunder to carefully spread a bear skin rove upon the ground before his Chief [He should place this in front of the main fire lay], who sat himself in Illini Posture. Great Thunder then spread a deer skin in front of the pioneer’s leader [also in front of the main fire lay, so that the two are facing each other and only an arm’s length or so apart]. Chief Allowat Sakima then beckoned his brother to be seated. One Feather presented the sacred tomahawk, which Chief Allowat Sakima drove into the wet earth to signify that all was peaceful. Then, One Feather presented to his Chief a symbol of the Order of the Arrow – the three eagle feathers signifying the three points of the Scout Oath [this is a rattle with three eagle feathers attached. Allowat should shake the rattle for effect, and then put it down]. Next he handed the peace pipe to his chief, who smoked in silence then passed it to the Pioneer Leader to seal the spirit of brotherhood and friendship. At the end of a moment of meditation, Little Chief pointed to the pile of sodden wood and made the Illiniwek’s sign for fire. Thus began a strange and eerie spectacle before the settlers.

[At this point, the Pioneer Leader and Allowat should get up and move back from their blankets. Great Thunder should come and quickly collect the blankets, the tomahawk and the rattle. Great Thunder should then deposit these items and the peace pipe in the tipi]

To the cadent rhythm of the tom-toms, Little Chief circles the unlit campfire in a weird, fantastic step [dance]. Again, he circled the fireplace, leaping over logs and all obstacles. A third time around with this strange performance, his body continued its bending and swaying, his feet in tempo with the uncanny vibration of the drums. And then the tom toms stopped beating. Little Chief backed far away and raising his gayly decorated rod on high, he spoke thus to the Four Winds:

[Little Chief turns to the east] To the East Wind he said –

"Oh, East Wind, carry away the rain clouds to the land thirsting for water."

[Little Chief turns to the south] To the South Wind he said –

"Oh, South Wind, bring warmth from the land of eternal sunshine."

[Little Chief turns to the west] To the West Wind he said –

"Oh, West Wind, cease for the present to bring the rain clouds from the high mountains of the setting sun."

[Little Chief turns to the north] And finally to the Winds of the North –

"Oh, North Wind, temper they harsh breath and show not they teeth so that comfort may come to our new brothers."

[Little Chief faces turns towards the fire lay.] Again, Little Chief raised his rod on high, pointing it straight upward he addressed himself to the Great Spirit,

"Oh Great Manitiou, fire these, thy children with strength and courage to overcome their hardships. Make them worthy of the care and protection it is they power to bestow upon them."

Little Chief lowered his rod and pointed it at the fire logs. Again, repeated this gesture. The third time he pointed the rod to the sky, and pausing for an instant, lowered it slowly. And now a most remarkable thing happened.

As the tip of the rod touched the ground, the settlers were astounded.

[At this point, the copper wire should be connected to the car battery in an to set off the charge in the fire.]

IF FIRE LIGHTS, READ "A." IF IT DOESN’T, READ "B."

  

"A"

 

 The water soaked logs glowed softly and then burst into flames. Never had they seen such as this.

Later in recounting this strange event, many and diverse were the versions. Some said it was the magic of the Illini. Others asserted that is was a natural phenomenon because they had heard strange sounds from the sky. Then there were others, who in hushed voices, proclaimed it an act of the Great Spirit. Of course, there were skeptics who shrugged their shoulder and said nothing.

"B"

 

All were intent silent, and expectant. Little Chief stretched his arms toward the fire logs, again making the Illiniweks’s sign for fire. One Feather hurried to the river and returned with a lighted torch. Circling about, he touched the blazing torch to the log near him. Soon the logs were ablaze, sending gleams over the bewildered settlers.

 

CONTINUE

The welcome glow of the fire instilled confidence and encouragement among the weary people.

And now that the fire was burning, One Feather approached the Chief and handed to him the Birch Bark Scroll. Then the Chief spoke thus to his new brothers and his people. [Allowat unrolls this scroll and "reads" it out loud.]

"This is the Sacred Bundle of the Order of the Arrow. Within, you will find our recognition to all of your people who have conducted themselves in such a manner as to be worthy of special recognition among you. May these recognitions serve to inspire all of out Brothers, as they live in the Woodlands of our Great Spirit, to carry on in truth, sincerity, in cleanliness of mind and body, and with a determination to live helpful, useful, constructive lives."

Will the camper please stand.

And now we come to that part of our ceremony at which time we single out for special honor those campers who have been chosen by their fellow Scouts for membership in the Order of the Arrow.

We believe that those who are selected for the honor must represent the high ideals and standards of the Scouting program. By their conduct they have demonstrated that they are doing their best to live up to the principles of the Scout Oath and Law, and have exhibited a spirit of Brotherhood and Cheerfulness of Service toward their leaders and fellow Scouts; that they have helped others to have an enjoyable camping experience.

We want then to understand that we call them forth not entirely in recognition of what they are or have done, but also in hopes and expectations of what they will be and what they will do for this camp, for Scouting, and for their communities in the future.

And now, Chief Allowat Sakima will walk among you to judge the Scout spirit of the assembled Candidates. [Narrator pauses while the Chief walks among the campers.] He will then move to the Medicine Ring to receive the honored candidates who have been chosen to enter his lodge. [The Medicine Ring is a small circle of rocks next to the stand with the totems, close enough so that an assistant can had the totems to him. It is big enough for Allowat alone to stand in.]

The Four Winds will reveal the candidates names, who are then to move from the ranks of their fellow Scouts and stand before the Great Chief, Allowat Sakima, thereby beginning their journey into membership in the Order of the Arrow

--PAUSE FOR WINDS TO REVEAL NAMES—

[When a candidate’s name is called out, the candidate steps forward from the assembled campers. One Feather and Little Chief then flank him as they escort him to Chief Allowat. Little Chief quietly tells the candidate to stand before the Chief and bow his head, then enter the tipi. As the candidate stands before Allowat, Allowat places a totem around the candidate’s neck and gestures towards the tipi. The candidate then enters the tipi. As the candidate enters the tipi, the East Wind will read off the next name on the list until there are no more. After the final candidate enters the tipi, the narrator continues with the end of the ceremony.]

And now his mission having been completed, with an added blessing to his unfortunate Brothers, Chief Allowat Sakima raises his hand in the friendly gesture of the Illini, then the Chief and his followers silently depart.

To carry out the thought of this ceremony, you who are Scouts represent the settlers. You will continue in single file, always in silence, until you have completely left the ceremony grounds.

Thus, all of you will have fulfilled you part in this way of re-establishing the fire and have dedicated yourselves to the tradition of Pine Ridge Scout Camp, the land of the Indian Boy of yesterday, the Land of the Boy Scouts of Today.

This concludes our ceremony for this evening. We appreciate you attendance. Good night.

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