Everything Ceremonies!

Abigail Bork

Icebreaker

With the people around you:

• Which principal do you personally connect with the most and why?

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Importance

Importance - History

OA founded in 1915:

• It began with the Ordeal Ceremony
• Recognizing those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law
• WWW

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“As the warrior draws the arrow most trustworthy from the quiver, you were drawn from many others: for the first shaft of the hunter must be straightest, must be surest. If through many moons unflinching you hold fast to Scouting pledges, straight and true you each will travel—as an arrow driven skyward, as an eagle soaring sunward. One who follows such a pathway in unwavering cheerful service will be seen by many others and, by inspiration, lead them.” –Allowat Sakima, PO

Importance – Court of Honor

• The ceremonies model a Court of Honor within a troop
• The earning of the honor is the trials of the Ordeal, and the time between Ordeal and Brotherhood
• ‘Board of Review’ at elections, Ordeal, and Brotherhood

“Then in your Ordeal tomorrow I will labor with you. With you I will listen, eating little. We will let the spirit fill us with the gladness of a dawning, of a springtime, of beginning. This Ordeal is but a shadow of the rigors of the journey—but its joys also are shadows of the brighter, greater beauty in a life of cheerful service.” –Kichkinet, PO

Importance – Impact

• Ceremonies can make or break an experience
• How to avoid bad experiences?
• How to make good experiences?

Proper Representation

Representation – Attire

OA Inductions Portal:

• American Indian attire
• The Scout Field Uniform, with ceremonial medallion
• The Alternative Ceremonial Clothing consisting of black shirt with black pants, with ceremonial medallion

Representation – Attire

American Indian Attire:

• Working relationship with local tribe(s)
• Proper depiction of regalia from the area
• It is up to the local tribe(s) for permission
• Do not judge other lodges for using regalia

Representation – Elements

American Indian Elements in ceremonies:

• Principals
• Legend of Lenni Lenape
• Pronunciation
• Dictation
• Native American culture

“‘You who love the haunts of nature, love the moonlight on the water, love the sunshine on the meadow, love the shadow of the forest, love the wind among the branches ever murmuring, ever sighing, love the rushing of great rivers through their palisades of pine trees, love the thunder in the mountains whose innumerable echoes leap and bound from crag to cliffside: listen to these admonitions for your guidance on your journey!’” –Meteu, PO

Best Practices to Embody a Principal

Best Practices

• Analyze the Text
• MaSeR (Message, Sender, Receiver)
• Gestures
• Embodiment of a principal
• Acting vs. Personifying

“So tomorrow eat you nothing but the scant food you’ll be given. So tomorrow learn by fasting, sacrifice, and self-denial to subordinate desires to the spirit’s higher purpose. Test yourselves, and so discover that a cheerful heart is lively as this bow-wood, under hardship.”–Meteu, PO

Open Discussion

Closing Question

With the people around you:

• Which principal would have what topping on their pizza?

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“Your journey is just beginning. Another time of testing is before you. Now you must preserve the tradition of cheerful service given us by Uncas. This will not be easy. Your fellow Scouts will thoroughly test your dedication. But you will discover that everything you have done and heard in this Ordeal will help you. Seek to understand the four tests you have completed, and resolve not to flinch when you encounter them in new ways as you strive to fulfill your Obligation.” –Allowat Sakima, Ordeal

Everything Ceremonies!

Abigail Bork