Owl Moon, once chief of the mighty Indian Princess Blackhawk tribe (Croix
Nation, Algonquin Federation, Buehler YMCA in Palatine, Illinois) faced the
same challenge. Mostly so that he would
not forget all the tasks involved in case the Great Spirit visited his teepee
during his son's upcoming Indian Guides campout,
he prepared a checklist of things he encountered when the Great Spirit chose
him to lead his daughter's Princess tribe.
He was blessed by the Great Spirit in that previous Blackhawk chiefs had
the wisdom to retain and pass on some agendas and tribal property from earlier
years. Indeed, not only did the Great
Spirit visit his tribal campfire, selecting him to be Miami tribal Chief, but
also Nation Chief of the mighty Indian Guides Kickapoo Nation!
The following suggestions might
help ease your transition to storied tribal chief - one who’s memory will be
revered by future members of your tribe.
Use those ideas you wish, add to the list anything you think might help
future chiefs, and pass a copy of that
updated list back to your nation for all to share.
v
Read the Federation Handbook—front to back. Your tribe, and
most importantly your child, will be easily able to tell how much you care by
the time you spend preparing to be chief.
v Consider purchasing the softcover “Friends Always” book from the YMCA. It is full of ideas for tribal meeting invitations, property, ceremonies, crafts, games, stories, songs, family activities, sources for Indian Program materials (headdresses, vests, patches, crafts, jewelry, pine cars, awards, books, and much Consider, much more. It makes a pretty nice birthday or early holiday gift from child to new Chief!
v From the previous tribal chief obtain:
Ø Nation Activity schedule for the current year
Ø Tribal Roster with list of beads/feathers earned
Ø Meeting minutes (taken by your Tallykeeper, of course)
Ø Attendance lists
Ø Tribal Meeting and Nation Event flyers (good idea source)
Ø Nation Officer Roster and documents
Ø Headdresses (chief’s and child’s)
Ø Tribal Property Box (Tribal banner, teepee, Talking Stick, etc.)
Ø Nation awards such as Tatanka bone, Slow Poke award, Great Grizzly award, Musheegut, Rat Sack, traveling trophies, etc.
Ø If the tribal property did not include one, get a 3-ring binder and a briefcase-type carrier for everything you’ll end up carrying.
v Obtain forms for the YMCA current Indian Program registration forms for all Braves/children returning to your tribe, and enough for those who might be persuaded to join at your children’s schools.
v Contact existing Braves to see who can attend the YMCA Indian Program Recruitment Night. Our tribe awards the recruitment bead to all Braves and Princesses attending Recruitment Night. Be sure to bring a small sign listing your tribe’s name and the schools your tribal members attend. There are lots of Nations and Tribes at recruitment night—potential members need help finding your tribe!
v Contact the existing tribal braves to set up a “Dad’s Meeting” as soon as possible before the school year starts. It might help to wait until after Recruitment Night to invite new Braves to a single meeting. Remind Braves to bring to the meeting:
Ø Their calendar, including school holiday dates and family, personal, and business dates. You’ll be setting the year’s tribal dates!
Ø Their checkbook, to pay YMCA Indian Program registration fees.
v At the first Dad’s meeting:
Ø Distribute YMCA Indian Program registration forms to be filled out right then. Collect the forms and checks for registration. You will need to submit all the forms and checks to the YMCA in a single batch, perhaps at the first nation Long House meeting.
Ø Assign Tribal Officers (remind them that they get patches for their and their child’s vests).
Ø Vote on tribal expense authorizations:
§ Tribal headdress containers (they are fragile, a couple Rubbermaid-type tubs are sturdy and fit into most car trunks)
§ Replacement headdresses or repair kits (your tribe needed tubs, right?)
§ Tribal Officer patches
Ø Distribute the Nation Events Calendar.
Ø Set tribal dates, times, hosts, and dues.
Ø Assign meeting hosts. Some tribes like to have the Brave/child be host, provide snacks and craft. That may depend upon the size of your tribe.
Ø Assign first campout award, and ceremonial log preparation duties. Princess tribes are called upon to offer a decorated ceremonial log to the council fire. They also prepare awards to match those they won at the last campout.
Ø Prepare a current, accurate roster. Check the one from your previous chief and be sure to get:
§ Paleface names and Indian names (for new members, suggest that the Brave and child Indian names be related in some way). Allow extra time for Braves and children to pick Indian names special to them.
§ Home address.
§ Email address (especially helpful!!!).
§ Home, work and fax numbers.
§ Child’s school and grade.
§ Previously earned beads/feathers.
§ Whether they have earned Haylushka.
Ø If available from the YMCA, distribute Starter Kits to new Braves.
Ø Distribute information on tribal vest types and a paper copy of the company, address, and phone number of where they can be obtained. Suggest that the child’s vest be ordered much larger than the current need. It has to last until they finish fourth grade, and will be work over bulky winter coats at the winter campout. Also suggest that they leave room at the top back of the vest for the Haylushka patch, and perhaps room down one side of the vest for Tribal Officer patches (“My Dad Is”, and up to five officer patches for kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade). Some vest suggestions:
§
Tandy Leather, (888) 890-1611
(www.tandyleather.com)
§
The Patch Store (CQ
Industries), 477 W. Fullerton, Elmhurst, IL 60126, (800) 537-2824 (www.thepatchstore.com)
§
CraftKits, PO Box 11195,
Champaign, IL 61826-1195, (217) 352-2552 (www.craftkits.com) - also a good source of headdresses
Ø Distribute a campout supply checklist if you have one.
v After the first Dad’s Meeting:
v
v Prepare a Tribal Roster (a spreadsheet program works well) which should include:
v Indian names
v Paleface names
Ø
Tribal Office
Ø
Beads/Feathers earned
Ø
Grade/school name
Ø
Home address
Ø
Home/Work/Fax phone numbers
Ø
Email address
Ø
Who hosts which meetings
(split out by host, snack, craft if needed)
Ø
Attendance at tribal meetings
and Nation Events
v Prepare a generic tribal agenda to be handed out at
each meeting, including the Purposes, Slogan, Aims, Pledge, Songs, remaining
meeting dates and Nation events. Fill
in adminstrivia each month and distribute at meetings. It helps the children learn the Aims. etc.
to see them on paper each month.
v Mark your own personal schedule with tribal dates,
nation events, and nation Long House meeting dates—both at home AND work!
v
v Be prepared to have the time of your life and
memories that will last just as long!
Remember that it’s all for fun; but it takes a commitment and
preparation to be a good chief. If you
can’t handle it don’t just let it slide, try to find someone who can help or
take over for you. The kids and other
Braves deserve it!