College of
Wilderness Knowledge
Course in
Indian Lore
Where held: The course in Indian Lore is
generally taught at the
What is provided? The materials for making the
models of the dwellings, and worksheets to record the gathered information on
will be provided.
What to Bring: Bring a pencil, notebook or paper and Indian Lore
merit badge pamphlet or book. The instructor will have some books available for
those who do not own one.
The students are encouraged to
read the pamphlets or book before coming to the course
CWK uses the resources of
The participants are given
worksheets to complete and record the information they gather and learn.
The
following lessons are included in the course:
INDIAN LORE
1. The course participants will visit the
Following the half
hour presentation in the Four Seasons Room, the participants are free to
explore the
museum on their own and work with the
museum staff to participate in and/or do the following
activities:
Ø
Learn three games
played by a group or tribe taught by the museum staff. They will teach and lead
one game with a Scout group after returning to Birch Bend Campground.
Ø
Learn how a specific
Indian group traditionally hunted, fished, or trapped and Give a demonstration
to their unit or another Scout group.
Ø
Learn in an Indian
language at least twenty-five common terms and their meanings.
The students/participants make an
authentic model of a dwelling used by any Indian tribe, group, or
Nation after returning to Birch Bend,
and visit a museum to see Indian artifacts. The students discuss
them
with their counselor. They also identify at least ten artifacts by tribe or
nation, their shape, size,
and
use.
The following are the activities which are usually
completed by the participants during the Indian Lore course weekend.
Give
the history of one American Indian tribe, group, or nation that lives or has
lived near you. Visit it, if possible. Tell about traditional dwellings, way of
life, tribal government, religious beliefs, family and clan relationships,
language, clothing styles, arts and crafts, food preparation, means of getting
around, games, customs in warfare, where members of the group now live, and how
they live.
Make
an authentic model of a dwelling used by any Indian tribe, group, or nation.
Visit
a museum to see Indian artifacts. Discuss them with your counselor. Identify at
least ten artifacts by tribe or nation, their shape, size, and use.
Write
or briefly describe how life would have been different for the European
settlers if there had been no Indians to meet them when they came to this continent.
Learn three games
played by a group or tribe. Teach and lead one game with a Scout group.
Learn
in an Indian language at least twenty-five common terms and their meanings.
Write
or tell about eight things adopted by others from American Indians.
Most or almost all of
the participants complete enough activities to meet the requirements of the Boy Scout Indian
Lore merit badge.
Indian Lore Merit badge requirements
1. Give the
history of one American Indian tribe, group or nation that lives or has lived
near you. Visit it, if possible.
Tell about dwellings, kind of life, tribal government, religious beliefs, family and clan relationships,
language, dress, food preparation, means of getting around, how they played, if they were warlike or peaceful, where
descendants of the group now
live, and how they live.
2. Do TWO
of the following. Use information about a specific group or tribe to complete
the requirements:
a. Make an item of clothing worn by members of
the tribe.
b. Make and decorate three items approved by
your counselor used by the tribe.
c. Make an authentic model of a dwelling used by
any Indian tribe, group, or nation.
d. Visit a museum to see Indian artifacts. Talk
about them with your counselor. Identify at least
10artifacts by tribe or nation, their shape, size, and use.
3. Do ONE
of the following:
a. Learn three games played by a group or tribe.
Teach and lead one game with a Scout group.
b. Learn and show how a tribe cooked or prepared
food. Make three food items.
c. Give a demonstration showing how a specific
Indian group hunted, fished, or trapped.
4. Do ONE of the following:
a. Write or briefly describe how life would have been different for
the European settlers if there
had been no Indians to meet them when they came to this continent.
b. Sing two songs in an Indian language. Explain
their meaning.
c. Learn in an Indian language at least 25 common
terms and their meaning.
d.
Show 25 signs in Indian sign language.
Include those that will help you ask for water, food,
and where the path or road leads.
e.
Learn in English an Indian story of at
least 300 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words. Tell the story or
stories at a Scout meeting or campfire.
f. Write or tell about eight things adopted by
others from the Indian.
g. Learn 25 Indian place names. Tell their
origins and meanings.
h.
Name five well-known American Indian
leaders, either from the past or people who are alive
today. Give their tribes or nations. Describe what they did or do now that
makes them notable.
i. Learn about the Iroquois Confederacy,
including how and why it was formed. Tell about its governing
system, and its importance to the framers of our Constitution.
Source: 2007 Boy Scout
Requirements (33215)