Figure 1.--There are often Indian Lore presentations at American Scout summer camps as seen here. Indian lore dance teams also give demonstrations at a variety of Scouting events.

Earnest Seaton helped introduced Indian lore including ceremonies, dancing, and handicrafts. His book The Birch Bark Roll was another important source of activities. This is a major difference between American and other Scouting programs around the World Baden Powell's program, especially the Cubbing program, gave considerable emphasis on Africa and Powell's experiences with military Scouts during the Bohr War. The American program had more of a focus on American Indian lore. While this emphasis is much less important today, Indian lore is still a Scout merit badge and Indian lore continues to be used in both BSA Cub and Scout publications. Some Scout Troops have shown a real interest in Indian lore and have organized Native American dance teams which give demonstrations at campfires and other Scouting events. We notice thatvthe BSA still uses the term "Indian Lore". This probably needs to be reviewed as some Native Americans find the term "Indian" offensive.

Earnest Seaton (1860-1946)

Ernest Thompson Seaton, or "Black Wolf," was an award winning wildlife illustrator and naturalist who was also a spell-binding storyteller and lecturer, a best selling author of animal stories, expert with Native American Sign language and early supporter of the political, cultural and spiritual rights of First Peoples. He played a major role in the development of the American Boy Scout movement, writing the first American handbook and serving as Chief Scout. An early colaboration with Baden-Powell soured after the founder of Scouting apparently stole many of his ideas and concepts. He founded the Woodcraft League of America (1902). He devoted much of his energy to the Woodcraft movement in America. Earnest Seaton helped introduced Indian lore including ceremonies, dancing, and handicrafts. His book The Birch Bark Rollwas another important source of activities. He married Julia M. Buttree, the author of The Rhythm of the Red Man (1930) which was one of the first books on American Indian music and dance adopted by the BSA. Seaton promoted the naturalist and native American approach to Scouting, but lost out to those who want a more militarist approach.

Baden Powell (1857-1941)

It can be argued that Robert Stephenson Smyth Powell was less than a perfect man. Born in 1857, he was the eighth child of Henrietta Grace Powell, wife of the Reverend Baden Powell. When Stephe, as he was known by his family, was but three years old, his father died suddenly. Henrietta was a strong and determined mother who did everything she could to ensure that her children were brought up to be strong of character and well educated. To honor her late husband, she added his given name to the family surname creating the hyphenated Baden-Powell. This was difficult only for the youngest son, who then had the cumbersome name of Baden Baden-Powell. Powell was a British general known as "the Hero of Mafeking" for his defense of the city during the Bohr War. He is best known of course for founding the Boy Scouts (1908) and which quickly spread to the united States and other countries. This is a major difference between American and other Scouting programs around the World Baden Powell's program, especially the Cubbing program, gave considerable emphasis on Africa and Powell's experiences with military Scouts during the Bohr War and out useful their outdoor skills proved.

American Scouting

Baden Powell is normally credited with founding the Scouting movement. Even before Powell founded the Scouting movement in Britain, there were several youth organizations in the United States, which used pioneer and "Indian lore" as the central theme of their programs. Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941) founded the Sons of Daniel Boone (1900) and was a noted artist, outdoorsman, author of children's books--even a friend of Mark Twain. Beard who played a major role in the early Scouting movement put more emphasis, however, on the pioneers and cowboys than Native Americans. Seaton who freely shared his ideas with Powell, resented Powell's fame and the free use of his ideasithout attribution or permission. James E. West founded the Boy Scouts of America--BSA (1910) and Beard's and Seton's organizations were merged with the BSA. West became the first Chief Scout Executive and Beard and Seton were elected to the BSA's national council. Seaton's role in early American Scouting can be seen in the BSA's adoption of Indian lore in the early program, although he was frustrated that it was not made the core of the program. The American program in contrast to Baden Powell's program gave attention to American Indian lore. In part this was because Native American life offered a rich tradition for an American outdoor touth program. Much of thisas developed by Seaton in his books and articles. Another less lauditory factor was involved. American Scouting founded in 1909 began at the hight of the Jim Crow era in America. Anything connected with Blacks and Africa was rediculed and despairaged. Black boys were for many years either excluded from Scouting or discouraged from participating. her Few parents would have approved of their sons participating which positively presented African lore to theor sons.

Indian Lore

Thus the BSA, using Seaton's materials, Indian lore was an imprtant part of the Scouting program. It was actually a realtively simple matter to replace Baden-Powell's African skills and lore with an American camping program inspired by a romantic version of native American lore. This proved enormously popular among boys and appears to have attracted quiye an number to the early Scouting program. I am not entirely sure of why Indian lore was so popular, but suspect cowboy and Indian movies may have been a factor here. BSA's the first official Handbook for Boys (1927) was a very popular publication and included a section on "American Indian Craft" containing instructed on how to make a tipi, moccasins, tom-toms, as well as bows and arrows. While this emphasis is much less important today, Indian lore continues to be used in both BSA Cub and Scout publications.

Merit Badge

Only 1 year after the BSA was founded, an Indian Lore merit badge was developed. This proved to be one of the most popular merit badges among early American Scouts. This was also the first organized effort to teach American boys about Native Amerucan history and culture, including songs, dances, and customs. Indian lore is still a Scout merit badge.

Ralph Hubbard

Dr. Ralph Hubbard wrote the chapter on Americam Indian Craft in Handbook for Boys He was son Elbert Hubbard who wrote "Message to Garcia". Dr Hubbard studied biology, but was so interested in Indian lore that he decided to make a career out of it. He had Cherokee ancestors. He was particularly interested in Indian dancing and began seriously teaching dancing on his ranch at Ten Sleep, near Boulder, Colorado (1913). Baden Powell organized the First International Jamboree (1920). It would have been held earlier, but was delayed by World War I. Dr. Hubbard put together an American Indian program at the Jamboree. His program proved enormously popular. Many European boys had read stories based on cowboys and Indians and Hubbard's program delighted them. Indian lore programs were thus made part of subsequent Jamborees. Hubbard later developed the Indian program at the First American Boy Scout Jamboree (1937). In addition to his work with Scouting, Hubbard founded two Native American museums: one at Wounded Knee, South Dakota (destroyed during the 1973 occupation) and another at Medora, North Dakota.

Levels

Indian lore is employed at all levels of the Scouting program. The use og Indian Lore is probablu best known with the Cubbing and Scouting program. It is also employed in the Explorer program for older youths, boys and girls. There are Explorer Posts that specialize in the Native tribes from their region. The best known are the Koshare Indian Dancers of LaJunta, Colorado, who were organized by Scout leader Buck Burshears.

Order of the Arrow

E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson at the Treasure Island Scout Camp, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Order of the Arrow (1915). The Order is a Scouting fraternity made up of older Scouters. They are elected to the Order by non-members Scouts and is a considerable honor. The Order has biennial conferences which persues Native American themes. The many local lodges compete at an Indian pageant. There are secret ceremonies to initiate new members. This is normally done at Scout summer camps. Selected boys are tapped out by an Indian runner. They then stay in the woods by themselves as part of the Order's initiation process.

Dance Teams

Some Scout Troops have shown a real interest in Indian lore and have organized Native American dance teams which give demonstrations at campfires and other Scouting events. Some groups do not take the dancing and costuming very seriously. None come up to the standards of Explorer Posts like Koshare Indian Dancers. Some Scout dance teams, however, put a substantial effort into their presentations and costumes.

Terminology

We notice that the BSA still uses the term "Indian Lore". This probably needs to be reviewed as some Native Americans find the term "Indian" offensive.