The Wisdom of the Native Americans: the Ways of the People

"A Life of Service"

The public position of the Indian has always been entirely dependent upon our private virtue.  We are never permitted to forget that we do not live to ourselves alone, but to our tribe and clan.  Every child, from the first days of learning, is a public servant in training.

In our traditional ways, the child is kept ever before the public eye, from birth onward.  The birth would be announced by the tribal herald, accompanied by a distribution of presents to the old and needy.  The same thing would occur when the child took its first step, spoke its first word, had its ears pierced, shot his first game.

Not a step in the child's development was overlooked as an excuse to bring it before the public by giving a feast in its honor.  Thus the child's progress was known to the whole clan as to a larger family, and the child grew to adulthood with a sense of reputation to sustain.

At such feasts the parents often gave so generously to the needy that they almost impoverished themselves, thereby setting an example to the child of self-denial for the public good.  In this way, children were shown that big-heartedness, generosity, courage, and self-denial are the qualifications of a public servant, and from the cradle we sought to follow this ideal.

The young boy was encouraged to enlist early in the public service, and to develop a wholesome ambition for the honors of a leader and feastmaker, which could never be his unless he proved truthful and generous, as well as brave, and ever mindful of his personal chastity and honor.

As to the young girls, it was the loving parents' pride to have their daughters visit the unfortunate and the helpless, carry them food, comb their hair, and mend their garments.  The name "Wenonah," bestowed upon the eldest daughter, means "Bread Giver," or "Charitable One," and a girl who failed in her charitable duties was held to be unworthy of the name.

Boy Scouts: remember the lessons of the Order of the Arrow: "Cheerful Service"

See you at the top!

Brian Colwell
3rd Generation Eagle Scout &
Martial Arts Superhero!!!