Arrowmen Learn and Explore American Indian Traditions

American Indian activities and crafts training generated excitement in the Brody Complex Tuesday afternoon.  Over thirty American Indian classes were offered in the six buildings of the Brody Complex  with Arrowmen exploring traditional activities and crafts.  These educational opportunities included a number of different American Indian dances, cultural background training, beadwork, bone work, and regalia construction captivated Arrowmen.

One class Arrowmen enjoyed was bone work. In the class they learned about different American Indian items made from bone such as chokers, bracelets and breast plates. The Arrowmen were given the opportunity to make their own bone choker to give them a bit of practice in making American Indian items. The instructor told them that if they could make a bone choker you they make any other item from bone.

American Indians and their traditions are very important to the Order of the Arrow as many of the Order's traditions are based on them. When members of the Order of the Arrow learn about American Indian traditions, they are also "preserving the traditions of the Order of the Arrow" as the Obligation states.  Honoring the American Indians through respectful imitation is just one way the Order helps to preserve and educate future generations on the earlier ways of the first "Americans." Many Arrowmen attending classes on American Indian traditions may not have realized this connection when they walked into class, but as they continue in the Order and continue learning they will come to deeply realize the importance and significance of tradition.