Opening Ceremony
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| HOST PARENT: |
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Everyone please form a circle (standing).
Welcome to the tepee (home) of (Host family's Indian names).
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| HOST PARENT: |
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Drumbeater, (host child) 1 beat of the drum for each person here
please.
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| CHIEF: |
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(Recites an invocation to the Great Spirit such as the
following example).
(All raise their hands toward the Great Spirit)
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Great Spirit, as we gather at this tribal council, we thank you for this gift of sharing between fathers/mothers
and sons/daughters. We thank you for these friends, and ask of your wisdom and guidance.
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| CHIEF: |
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Let us recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
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| ALL: |
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I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which
it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all.
ALL SIT ON FLOOR, CHILDREN IN FRONT OF THEIR PARENT
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| CHIEF: |
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What are the Six Aims of the Native Sons and Daughters
Programs™? |
| ALL: |
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(Chief or Host parent can lead)
- To be clean in body and pure in heart.
- To always be a friend with my father/mother, son/daughter.
- To love the sacred circle of the family.
- To be attentive while others speak.
- To love my neighbor as myself.
- To seek and preserve the beauty of the Great Spirit's work in forest, field and stream.
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| CHIEF: |
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Wampum Bearer, please call the roll, and collect the dues.
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Wampum Bearer calls each person present by his or her Indian name. Each parent tells of something good
(a good deed or service, etc.) they did since the last meeting. Each child tells of something
good they did, or how they earned their wampum. (Wampum can is passed around.)
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| WAMPUM BEARER: |
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Chief, the wampum has been collected and was well earned.
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Meeting Activities
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| CHIEF: |
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We will now have the Scouting Reports from the sons/daughters.
The subject of the report is...
(The host children start, first reciting their Indian name, then gives their report).
(All reports have been completed).
Dads/Moms let us applaud the fine reports these young sons/daughters have given. (APPLAUSE)
I now turn the meeting over to (Indian names), our host family.
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The host parent will now direct the activities for the remainder of the meeting. As previously
explained, these activities will normally include a craft project that all can participate in,
stories with a meaning, games that will include parent participation, and a snack. The length of
time for crafts or games should be determined scheduling purposes. If the activities are not a
continuous project, make sure they can be completed within the meeting time frame. It is suggested
to do the craft project first, then if the craft runs overtime, the game can be shortened or
eliminated altogether. Snacks are generally served after all activities have been completed.
Serving soft drinks during the meeting causes too much distraction.
(AT THIS POINT, ALL PLANNED ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED) |
| CHIEF: |
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Is there a report from the longhouse?
The longhouse representative (or chief) will now give updates and highlights of
coming program activities and items of interest to the children (i.e: campout, canoe
trip). |
| Save business talk for Parents Only
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Closing Ceremony
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| CHIEF: |
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Let us stand and form the Tribal Circle of Unity to close
our meeting. Let us join hands as a symbol of our unity and our bond as parent and child together.
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A closing ritual such as an Indian or
nondenominational prayer is appropriate, or having everyone tell something special that they are
thankful for. If each person speaks again, have them again recite their Indian name. This ritual
is chosen and molded by each tribe. Once a ritual has been chosen that all are comfortable with,
it should remain this way. The host parent or chief can start or recite the ritual.
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| HOST PARENT: |
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I give thanks to all those who have attended our meeting.
Travel safe on your journey home.
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MEETING IS ENDED
If the tribe has a program manual in its property box, it should be given to the parent that
will host the next meeting.
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An Indian Closing Prayer
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Prayers and Devotions can be a special part
of the tribe meeting or gathering. The following is only one such prayer that can be learned
individually, or as a group. This nondenominational prayer is a great way to close a tribe meeting
and it is hoped that they become tradition in your local program for many years to come. Although
they are intended to be silent, one person may lead a group prayer by speaking the words.
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