My son Sam earned his Eagle Scout rank last week.  For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Sam collected and delivered 1046 pairs of shoes for the good people of Crow Creek Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  I posted his picture with his sash of over 24 merit badges on FB.

Just yesterday a friend of mine posted a picture of a poor white boy wearing sad looking outfit with a fake feather bustle and the punchline was:  I made it in boy scouts.

This just hurt.

Several months ago, while searching for help with Sam's endless Eagle Scout application, I came across some disturbing images of little scrawny white boys wearing sad outfits, head dresses, war paint and the like.  These disturbing images were from some sub organization of the BSA; the order of the arrow.

This just hurt and made me mad.

After I witnessed these disturbing images, I sent a little to the BSA headquarters and also to my church, who STRONGLY supports the BSA.  I urged both entities to reconsider the shameless practices of mocking our sacred traditions, attire and the like, and reach out to Native American tribes for assistance and much needed EDUCATION.  I urged them to seek help from Indian leaders if they wanted to continue to use our heritage as a means to strengthen the organization.  No word from the BSA, but I have been chided by my church, sigh.

After my friend posted his picture of the sad little boys in sad little Native attire, I posted a comment, and again, no word, and it was removed, hence my blog today.

I am very proud of my sons for completing and earning their Eagle Scout rank.  I am very proud that both of my sons chose to honor and help the people of the Crow Creek Indian Reservation.  I am very pleased that they as native sons, looked beyond themselves and saw the needs of others and carried out a plan to help our people.

Crow Creek is part of our history.  My grandmother's people, their great-grandmother was a full-blood Dakota.  My grandfather's people, their great-grandfather was a full-blood Ho-Chunk.  Both of these great Nations were exiled from Minnesota in 1862, to the Crow Creek Indian Reservation.  Many people lost their lives in this forced removal for the want of food and for the treaties to be honored.

To my people I saw, if you don't like the way the BSA portrays us, speak up, stand up and reach out.  Speak up and write a little to your local council and to the head quarters of the BSA.  We cannot tolerate ignorance or cultural incompetency. 

Stand up and be counted.  Do you know about the Scouting Program?  If not, learn about it.  There are some excellent values that are being taught by very culturally competent leaders.  The scouting programs helps boys become well rounded men.  If you are Native, the BSA can compliment your teachings and our ways.

Reach out and volunteer to help the BSA learn to how respectfully treat our ways.  Help them to know that it is terribly offensive to see scrawny little white boys in head dresses and war paint.  Teach them that only true warriors or a a true Chief can wear head dresses.  Each of those feathers were earned in courageous ways. I would NOT let my sons participate in Scouts unless I taught the Indian Lore Badge.  They were taught well and true.

To the BSA and to my Church, if you want to continue to use our ways to convey a message of brotherhood and bonding within the BSA, this can be done without making a mockery and stereotyping out traditions and sacred ceremonies.  Please, please reach out to those who know and learn how we can work together for the good of young men and boys.

I am glad that my sons chose the best of both of their worlds and participated in BSA, and earned their Eagle Scout rank by helping our people in a good way.  Many thanks to their good Scout Master Brent Spencer.  You, and with the help of their father,  learned leadership skills and learned how to make and follow through with their goals.  In all this, my sons chose to honor their heritage and our people.  Waste!  Pinagigi!