AWARDS PROGRAM
PURPOSE:
The Awards Program was developed to provide a formal and structured means for the Pathfinder to achieve levels within the organization based on successfully completing mandatory and elective requirements. Requirements will include knowledge of the Organization, Indian Folklore and Customs and Nature
The Awards Program is not intended to be competitive, but rather an incentive program for the Pathfinder to become more active in the organization by performing challenging activities. This is where the father and daughter join together spending time to reach a common goal. The Nation recognizes the Pathfinder?s accomplishments by awarding the respective level award that will be worn on a necklace, as well as a colored feather for the number of years in the program.
HOW PROGRAM WORKS:
The Pathfinder must display and/or demonstrate the activities to her tribe. Upon completion of each activity, a colored bead will be given to her from her tribe until the eight activities for the respective level are achieved. Upon successful completion of each level, the Pathfinder will receive from the Nation at the annual Awards Banquet, the respective award and feather for years in the program.
LEVELS:
There are six (6) levels to attain. They are as follows in the order in which they will be earned and received:
(1) Turtle (2) Horse (3) Deer
(4) Owl (5) Wowitan (6) Running Bear
Each level requires that four (4) mandatory activities (reference Attachment "A") and four (4) optional activities (reference Attachment "B") are successfully completed. The second level cannot be received prior to the first, the third before the second, and so on. However, multiple levels can be awarded at the banquet so long as they are sequential (i.e. Turtle and Horse, Horse and Deer, and so on).
AWARDS:
Two elements make up the Awards: 1) Necklace patch and bear claws for Levels one through 4; Wowitan headdress and medallion for 5, or Post-Wowitan award for Level 6; and 2) The applicable colored feather for the number of years in the Pathfinder Program
Necklace Patch Awards
Upon successful completion of the eight activities for Levels 1 through 4 (see 4.2.1), the Pathfinder is eligible for the respective patch award. The patch is made of leather stamped with the image of each level, and is to be worn on the leather necklace which is included with the Turtle Award.
Wowitan
The Wowitan, which is the Indian word for honor, is the highest activity award a Pathfinder can achieve. The Wowitan signifies that the Pathfinder has earned the right to wear the Wowitan headdress and medallion for completing forty activities. The Wowitan headdress is distinguishable by the white plumes attached to the top of the feathers. The amount of feathers in the headdress signify the years the Pathfinder has been in the program. The Wowitan medallion, which is worn on a necklace, includes an inscription of the Pathfinder?s Indian name.
Running Bear
The Running Bear award is named in recognition of Mr. Rob Olford. Rob's commitment in guiding the Nation's efforts in community service was an inspiration to us all.
The Running Bear award requires that the Pathfinder perform an additional eight activities. Upon completion of these activities the Pathfinder will receive two gold bear claws to wear with the Wowitan medallion, a white feather with a red plume, and a certificate to display her accomplishment. Additional bear claws can be earned for additional activities completed.
Feathers
Each year at the Awards Banquet the Pathfinder, whether or not she receives an award, will receive a colored feather representing the total years she has been in the program. The colored feather will be received in the following order:
Year Color
1st Black & White (Eagle Feather)
2nd Yellow
3rd Green
4th Red
5th Blue
6th Orange
7th Pink w/White Plume (Assumes Wowitan Earned)
8th Pink w/Yellow Plume
9th Pink w/Green Plume
10th Pink w/Red Plume
11th Pink w/Blue Plume
12th Pink w/Orange Plume
Recruitment is essential to the continued success and growth of our program. We acknowledge this activity for those Pathfinders who bring in additional members by awarding a purple feather for each new member.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
PATHFINDER AND FATHER
The Pathfinder and father are responsible for assuring that all activities for each applicable level are successfully completed. An activity-tracking sheet should be used to assure accuracy. The Pathfinder must display or demonstrate to her tribe that she researched, created performed, etc., the activity. Upon satisfactory completion of the activity, the applicable colored bead is presented. When a Pathfinder receives eight of a particular colored bead, she is now eligible for the applicable patch award.
TRIBE
The Medicine Man or Chief of the tribe is responsible for monitoring the activity progress of each Pathfinder. The Medicine Man is the holder of the beads that will be distributed. Costs of beads are responsibility of the tribe. In addition, the Medicine Man must keep the Nation Medicine Man informed of the awards and colored feathers that each Pathfinder will be receiving at the annual Awards Banquet, as well as any additional awards, T-shirt sizes, etc., that may be handed out at the two campouts.
NATION
The Nation Medicine Man is responsible for coordinating all award activities with the tribes, as well as procuring the materials, fabricating the awards and presenting them at the Awards Banquet and the two campouts. All costs associated are the responsibility of the Nation.
REQUIREMENTS
LEVEL #1
Turtle Award
Mandatory:
1. From memory, recite to your tribe the Nation Pledge
2. From memory, recite to your tribe the Nation Aims and Slogan
3. Sing the Nation Song to your tribe.
4. Design, make and deliver, with your dad, an invitation for each tribe member inviting them to the next tribe meeting at your teepee.
Choose Four (4) optional activities from the Optional Activities List
LEVEL #2
Horse Award
Mandatory:
1. From memory, name (10) American Indian tribes
2. Know and identify to the tribe the Indian names of all members of your tribe (Pathfinders and parents).
3. Know and illustrate to your tribe ten (10) Indian symbols and tell their meaning.
4. Describe and tell the meaning of each of the symbols on the Nation headband
Choose Four (4) optional activities from the Optional Activities List
LEVEL #3
Deer Award
Mandatory:
1. Make four (4) statements using Indian sign language.
2. Give an Indian prayer at one of your tribe meetings (can be read).
3. Show or tell to your tribes three (3) methods of Trailblazing and give the symbols for: "This Way", "Right Turn", "Left Turn", "Not This Way" and "Danger" or "Help". Explain the purpose of Trailblazing.
4. Take a two (2) mile nature hike with your dad.
Choose Four (4) optional activities from the Optional Activities List
LEVEL #4
Owl Award
Mandatory:
1. Attend a Longhouse meeting with your dad and give a verbal report to your tribe on the discussions.
2. Draw the Indian symbols for the months of the year at a tribe meeting.
3. Make a US map and show on the map at least twenty (20) Indian Tribes and their locations.
4. Research an Indian Chief of your choice and present a detailed report to your tribe.
Choose Four (4) optional activities from the Optional Activities List
LEVEL #5
Wowitan Award
Mandatory:
1. Research an Indian tribe of your choice and present a detailed report to your tribe.
2. Make a bow and arrow and show your tribe how it is used.
3. Conduct a tribal meeting with the help of your dad.
4. Perform one hour of community service. Obtain a signed note from the director confirming your participation.
Choose Four (4) optional activities from the Optional Activities List
LEVEL #6
Running Bear Award
Mandatory:
1. Perform two hours of community service. Obtain a signed note from the director confirming your participation.
2. Assist in the coordination of a Nation event. Can be done as a tribe if workshare can be evenly divided. Details must be explained at a Longhouse meeting well in advance of the event.
3. Build a scale model of an Indian village on a 12" by 24" board using only natural materials (wood, sticks, leaves, clay, etc.) and display it to your tribe. Include a teepee wigwam or longhouse, campfire, bow and arrow, canoe, an Indian family, and a pelt rack.
4. Write a story about an Indian child your age, or do a book report on an Indian topic, and read it to your tribe. Either requirement must be a minimum of three double-spaced, type written pages.
Choose Four (4) optional activities from the Optional Activities List
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES LIST
1. Make a leaf scrapbook (actual leaves or leaf prints) of at least ten (10) leaves, and identify each leaf.
2. Teach your tribe an Indian Dance step. (A good source is Indian crafts and lore, by W. Ben Hunt).
3. Make an Indian peace pipe.
4. Take a canoe trip with your dad. (A canoe trip at a nation event does not count for this activity.)
5. Make an Indian beadwork design out of beads.
6. Make an Indian costume with your dad.
7. Make an Indian pottery item.
8. Make a model of an Indian Wigwam (not a teepee).
9. Make a model teepee at least 10" high out of twigs and cloth.
10. Make a coup stick.
11. List six (6) snakes common to your area and give a general description of each and how to identify it. (Include poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes.)
12. List six (6) wild plants common to your area and give a general description of each and how to identify it. (Include at least one poisonous plant.)
13. Take a one-mile nature hike with your dad.
14. Build a campfire and extinguish it before leaving.
15. Find a recognize three (3) actual animal or insect habitats in the outdoors.
16. Cast three animal tracks out of plaster of Paris and identify each.
17. Row a boat or canoe and turn it left or right. (Does not include campout activities.)
18. Camp out overnight in a teepee or tent with your dad. (Does not include campout activities.)
19. Cook a meal over a campfire for yourself and your dad.
20. Tie six (6) knots and know what they are used for.
21 Catch as fish all by yourself.
22. Make a display collection (rocks, coins, leaves, etc.).
23. Build a birdfeeder with your parent and set it outdoors.
24. Identify the different birds that come to the birdfeeder for one hour. Identify at least five (5) different birds. (#23 is a prerequisite.)
25. Build a model of an Indian object of your choice.
26. Make an Indian centerpiece for the family table out of natural objects (twigs, leaves, cones, etc.).
27. Make up an Indian game and play it with your tribe.
28. Make an Indian scrapbook.
29. Whittle an Indian object out of wood (arrowhead, bear claw, totem pole, peace pipe, etc.)
30. Make an Indian leather craft project.
31. Carve an Indian object out of soap.
32. Draw an Indian picture and describe it to your tribe.
33. Plant a seed and take care of it until it is a least 2" high.
34. Tell an Indian story to your tribe (not to be read).
35. Take an outing with your dad to a museum where Indian relics are illustrated and explain what you saw to your tribe.
36. Star Gazing. Show, by drawing from memory, five (5) constellations and the stars that make up that constellation.
37. Take and complete a course in archery. Present your Certificate of Completion to your tribe.
38. Tell to your tribe the Indians' involvement in the first Thanksgiving.
39. Show and/or tell to your tribe the following about the American Flag:
- Meaning of the colors, stars, and stripes
- Tell how to raise and lower a flag.
- Tell or show how to fold a flag.
- Recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Tell or show how and when to salute the flag.
40. Build a birdhouse with your parent and show it to the tribe.
41. Tell your tribe how to identify five (5) different trees common to your area (bark, shape, leaves, seeds, etc.).
42. Tell your tribe the different parts of a tree, the function of the parts, and how the tree obtrains food and water.
43. Plant two or more trees at least as tall as yourself.
44. Submit an article on a new (not listed) optional activity to Sandpainter for publication in "Smoke Signals".
45. Make an Indian necklace.
46. Make an Indian tomahawk.
47. Identify the tribes who lived in your state. Display their whereabouts and some interesting facts about one or two of the tribes.
48. Make a drum. Individually or as a tribe.
49. Identify (4) different types of clouds and explain any weather predictions that can be made from them.
50. Take a nature hike with your dad and photography (5) animals or important nature scenes. Show them to your tribe. (Not to be combined with other nature hikes.)
51. Show and identify the (4) coins used in the American money system. Explain their value and use them to make these amounts for your tribe: .36, .42, .71,.98,$1.28 (Turtle and Horse only).
52. Make a tribal banner.
53. Research and report on the history of your tribe.
54. Explain to your tribe what the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are and what they have to do with Indians.
55. Visit an Indian Reservation or an area where they once resided and report to your tribe.
56. Teach your tribe an Indian song.
57. Draw (5) clocks on a paper and draw the times asked by your tribe members. (Turtle, Horse and Deer only.)
58. Learn to ride a horse or take a lesson.
59. Make an Indian shoe box.
60. Collect flint and tinder of construct a fire bow. Use them to start a fire.
61. Visit a maple sugaring house and report to your tribe how maple sugar is made.
62. Preserve one food item with a method used by the Indians (smoking, drying or salting).
63. Bake an old family recipe (cake, cookies, etc.) and serve it to your tribe.
*Special Notation: With the approval of the tribe, optional activities may be undertaken for beadwork.
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