OA Face Painting
Michael Craig
regarding face paint for OA members. Unfortunately all have different
rules.
Regarding the different teams, Dance Teams (fancy dancers, grass
dancers, and traditional dancers) and Ceremony Teams, what are the
"Official" rules concerning the OA members wearing face paint during
their performance? Opinions welcome, but I would also like to have a
URL or booklet number where I can find the information.
Mike
Stephen M. Henning
> There seems to be several persons in our council who know the rules
> regarding face paint for OA members. Unfortunately all have different
> rules.
When in doubt read the instructions ---
From the Guide for Officers and Advisers [1999]:
"FACE PAINT POLICY. The use of face paint, body paint, and wigs by
non-American Indians could be offensive to some groups of American
Indian people. Where lodge activities related to ceremony and dance are
offensive to local American Indians, they must be discontinued for Order
of the Arrow members.
Order of the Arrow national conferences and events conducted beyond the
individual lodge will not permit face paint, body paint, or wigs to be
used in social or competition dancing or in ceremonies or ceremony
competition. Appropriate local use is to be interpreted by each lodge
based on their relationship with American Indian tribes in the council
area."
So your lodge's policy will be derived from conversations with local
tribes. The Supreme Chief of the Fire makes this determination.
The OA Handbook [2000] doesn't address this issue directly but does give
good advice:
"Scouts must even respect beliefs no longer practiced. Many traditional
dances of various American Indian tribes have religious themes.
We must always remember that a religion belongs to the people practicing
it. A nonbeliever cannot perform a sacred dance without degrading or
insulting the original religious intent. For this reason, any dance
that has a religious connotation must be avoided.
The following general rules will assist in recognizing those dances that
should be avoided:
1) Dances utilizing a mask, including the use of Katchinas, false faces
of the Northwest Coast mask, and many others.
2) Pipe ceremonies invoking spirits.
3) Petitions to a higher power, including blessings, thanksgiving
prayers for rain, food, or a good harvest.
The most abused dance of this type is the Hopi snake dance. These
dances should be avoided."
What these books don't say is that the term American Indian is offensive
to some people. They prefer Native American.
The famous Koshare Indian Dancers, a Venturing Crew in LaJunta,
Colorado, always consult with Native Americans before performing any
dance and get approval from a tribe elder. Many times when at their
shows you see a Native American elder present.
--
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brow...@bellsouth.net
writes:
Check the OA Handbook and the Guide to Officers and Advisors. About 4-6 years
ago
National set down several rules for face paint to avoid offending Native
Americans. I know that for National competitions, its not allowed. But am
uncertain off the top of my head.
I got the following from the National OA website (do a search on 'face
paint'):
National Order of the Arrow Face Paint Policy: Order of the Arrow National
Conferences and events conducted beyond the individual lodge will not permit
face paint, body paint or wigs to be used in social or competition dancing or
in ceremonies or ceremonies competition.
So it sounds like so long as its within the lodge, where only the lodge will
see,
its ok. But if you're doing for the general public, at the Section, or at
National, then no.
Hope this helps.
Michael Brown
Osceola Lodge #564, VH
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Ross MacRae
"Indian" - and many, though they don't mind anything including "Indian",
have settled on "Indigenous" as the most accurate description yet found.
Samuel Jahaza Howard
> to some people. They prefer Native American.
There was a survey done a few years back that found the terms Native
American and American Indian equally acceptable. Furthermore, it
is better then either one to use their tribes name, which is what lots of
people prefer. Finally, in South American it seems common to use the
term Amerindian, but I'm not sure. This afternoon, I'll ask my professor
who worked with the native people of Peru for many years what the
preferred term is.
Sam Howard
J. Hugh Sullivan
<pig...@aol.com> wrote:
>What these books don't say is that the term American Indian is offensive
>to some people. They prefer Native American.
The books also don't point out the many bumper stickers on
reservations "Native American, Hell - I'm an American Indian". That's
certainly understandable since Native American does not distinguish
them from any other person born in the USA.
But, back to the accurate point, respect of American Indian customs is
the key.
Hugh
Michael Craig
Thanks for the input.
I am part Chickahomony, and therefore my son is also, but I think avoiding
the painting altogether might be better then letting
him wear some since he is the only Native American descendant in his dance
group.
BTW, no one in my family objects to being referred to as an American
Indian, we just do not care to be called "indians".
Thanks again
Mike
Ross MacRae
Catholic feel if someone, very respectfully, got the idea of presenting an
authentic Catholic folk custom and put on a very carefully researched
cassock, and performed a really authentic Mass? Same thing with Indian
customs, I would think.
J. Hugh Sullivan
wrote:
I'm not Catholic but, in my opinion, imitation is the sincerest form
of flattery.
About 1977-78 my secretary gave me a note to return a call to Steff
Echohawk. In the conversation I learned that he was a Comanche Indian
from around Palo Duro. I had been to Philmont in 1976 and we went
through the Palo Duro area. I called him again about 2 weeks later to
see if the info I had given him helped him to do his job. I greeted
him and asked how he was - in Comanche. I had done a little research
at the library. Of course my pronunciation was lousy but I made a
friend.
I feel the same way about OA ceremonies. I don't think there should be
limitations (except for Eagle feathers), but they should be done with
respect.
One year when I was Lodge Advisor we collected 55 gallon drums and
placed them around summer camp to be used as trash cans - some were
still there 10 years later. We painted them white and decorated them
with Indian symbols. It would be difficult to imagine anyone resenting
that.
Hugh
Rob Blau
<magi...@toad.net> wrote:
I would think so too. This whole OA "Indian" dancing thing makes me
very uncomfortable.
Rob Blau
Stephen M. Henning
> I feel the same way about OA ceremonies. I don't think there should be
> limitations (except for Eagle feathers), but they should be done with
> respect.
If you respectfully disagree, then solicit support from all American
Indian tribes and make your case to the BSA. If you can't do this, I
suggest that you are not speaking out of respect for the American
Indians. The BSA made this rule after complaints were made about
disrespect for American Indian customs. I am not Roman Catholic, but I
take off my hat when I go into a Catholic Church. We should also
respect American Indian customs and not perform ceremonies they do not
wish us to copy. That is as important as taking my hat off in church.
You can not respectfully show disrespect.
Jim Bradley
> ... If you can't do this, I
> suggest that you are not speaking out of respect for the American
> Indians. The BSA made this rule after complaints were made about
> disrespect for American Indian customs. I am not Roman Catholic, but I
> take off my hat when I go into a Catholic Church. We should also
> respect American Indian customs and not perform ceremonies they do not
> wish us to copy. That is as important as taking my hat off in church.
Unfortunately, in this era of policical correctness, you're never going
to please everyone. Some people are going to complain regardless of what
is done. From what I've seen, 95% of the complaints are from 5% of the
people, and those complaints should be round filed most of the time, and
only the 5% of the complaints left should be even looked at.
J. Hugh Sullivan
<pig...@aol.com> wrote:
>su...@mindspring.com (J. Hugh Sullivan) wrote:
>
>> I feel the same way about OA ceremonies. I don't think there should be
>> limitations (except for Eagle feathers), but they should be done with
>> respect.
>If you respectfully disagree, then solicit support from all American
>Indian tribes and make your case to the BSA.
Whether I disagree and whether I am willing to abide by the rules are
separate and distinct. If you are unable to comprehend this, you have
a problem.
>If you can't do this, I
>suggest that you are not speaking out of respect for the American
>Indians. The BSA made this rule after complaints were made about
>disrespect for American Indian customs.
If you can't comprehend the ability to have a philosophy without
acting on it, I suggest you not reply to posts you don't understand.
If you had been in BSA as long as I have you could have seen the
decision coming. Too many people made a farce out of something that
should be respected. The innocent always suffer because of the guilty.
>I am not Roman Catholic, but I
>take off my hat when I go into a Catholic Church. We should also
>respect American Indian customs and not perform ceremonies they do not
>wish us to copy. That is as important as taking my hat off in church.
I never wear a hat. I have never witnessed or been a part of a
ceremony which I knew to be disapproved by American Indians.
>You can not respectfully show disrespect.
Who told you?
Hugh