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Current and Past Order of the Arrow members

Many of us in the Boy Scouts were involved in the Order of the Arrow. As they know, the Order of the Arrow uses American Indian lore as an integral part of the program. Some of us developed an interest in our own heritage partly as a result of this exposure. There are some inaccuracies in the story of the origin of the Order, implying a connection between the Order and the Lenni Lenape tribe. The National headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America is deliberating removing all connection to American Indian lore to avoid causing offense.

There is a group actively pursuing replacing the inaccuracies in the ceremonies while retaining American Indian lore in general. Their opinion is that exposure or scouts to accurate American Indian culture is a win/win situation for the scouts and the native people. Our own Over Hill Cherokee vision is about preserving our ancestors' culture, and that can only happen by sharing the knowlege.

The group mentioned above is asking current and former Arrowmen with Native American heritage to write to the National Order of the Arrow officials to express their view on whether the Order of the Arrow should continue American Indian Activities and lore. To make sure the letters are not somehow "lost in the mail", they are asking if you would also send a copy which will be posted on a dedicated web page as sort of a public bulletin board showing the members' concencus. Wado.

The address to write is:

ORDER OF THE ARROW, S325
1325 WEST WALNUT HILL LANE
P.O. BOX 152079
IRVING, TX 75015-2079

The address to send a copy is: Bill HartmanBill Hartman
738 Ryan Ave
Melbourne, FL 32935

or email: billhartman@acm.org


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