YMCA Indian Princess Program

 

Purpose: To foster understanding and companionship between father and daughter.

 

Slogan: “Pals Forever, Friends Always”

 

Aims:

1.        To be clean in body and pure in heart.

2.        To be friends always with my father/daughter.

3.        To love the sacred circle of my family.

4.        To listen while others speak.

5.        To love my neighbor as myself.

6.        To seek and preserve the beauty of the Great Spirit’s work in forest, fields, and stream.

 

Pledge: “We, father and daughter, through friendly service to each other, to our family, to this tribe, to our community, seek a world pleasing to the eye of the Great Spirit.”

 

Overview: Father/Daughter program sponsored by the YMCA, based loosely on Indian lore and customs. A group of about 5-15 Father/Daughter pairs make up a tribe. A group of about 5-15 tribes make up a nation. Names for each tribe and the nation should be that of an actual Indian tribe or nation.

 

Indian Names: Each “Princess” and “Big Brave” chooses an Indian name which is formally bestowed upon them at the induction ceremony at their first campout.  While names need not be actual Indian names, they should demonstrate an authenticity that shows respect for Indian culture.

 

Princess Age Range: Kindergarten through 4th Grade.

 

Vests: Each Big Brave and Little Princess typically has a vest made out of leather or felt. The vest is used to display patches received for each nation event attended.

 

Tribal Officers: Each tribe has a Chief, Assistant Chief, Wampum Bearer and Tally Keeper.  Officers can serve for a year or a half-year.  The Assistant Chief is usually becomes the next Chief.  It’s often easy to go down a tribe’s roster in alphabetical order in order to assign officers, particularly the Chief and Assistant Chief.  The Chief and/or the Assistant Chief attend a monthly nation meeting held at the YMCA’s facility at 13500 Quito Road, Saratoga, 408.370.1877.

 

Tribal Meetings: Each tribe usually has a monthly meeting, lasting 1½ - 2 hours. Each tribe meeting has a host Father/Daughter, and the meeting usually takes place at the host family’s house. Each family will receive a book from the YMCA which includes suggested programs for tribal meetings. The following is a typical meeting -- each tribe can determine what works best for them.

1.        Chief calls meeting to order.

·         Host princess beats the tribe drum once for each child present.

·         Chief starts the meeting with a ritual, such as a prayer to the “Great Spirit”.

2.        Tally Keeper takes roll and reads minutes from previous meeting.

3.        Wampum Bearer collects tribal dues, perhaps $2 for each daughter and $3 for each dad.  These can be used for special projects, a party, a community project, etc.

4.        Each Princess stands up, says her Indian name, and gives a “scouting” report for the month:

·         A good deed they have done, and/or

·         An activity, project or event they have done with their father/family.

5.        Chief announces upcoming nation events, YMCA news, etc. Plans are reviewed for the next meeting.

6.        Host introduces the night’s craft, which is supplied by the Host.  Crafts include anything that can be completed in ~30 minutes, or which can be completed in a couple of tribe meetings.  Ideas include:

·         construction of decorations or projects for a nation event

·         making bead or leather projects

·         something related to the actual Indian tribe for which their YIP tribe is named

·         planting seeds for a home garden

·         map reading

7.        Host provides and serves refreshments.

8.        Host or tribe members tell a story, usually with a moral, and/or sing songs.

9.        Chief leads closing ritual.

10.     Meeting is adjourned.

 

Nation Officers: Like each tribe, the nation has a Chief, Assistant Chief, Wampum Bearer and Tally Keeper. The nation also has a Medicine Man. Officers serve for a full school year.  The Assistant Chief usually becomes the next Chief, and the Medicine Man usually becomes the next Assistant Chief.

 

Nation Officers' Duties: The Chief runs the monthly nation meetings and oversees the affairs of the nation.  The Assistant Chief schedules the campout venues and puts together the campout handout. The Wampum Bearer collects the nation fees and orders and distributes the nation event patches. The Tally Keeper edits the nation newsletter and/or the nation web site. The Medicine Man runs the campout program and orchestrates its pyrotechnics.

 

Nation Events: There are nation events every month from October through June. Except for the campouts, these events are organized by one of the tribes. Most nation events are just for the fathers and daughters. Events such as Roller Skating, though, can be for the entire family. Nation events include fall and spring campouts, a Square Dance, a Dress Up Dance and the Los Gatos Holiday Parade.  Other events may include Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Bowling, Pinewood Derby, Rain Gutter Regatta, Space Derby, Roaring Camp Train Ride, Beach Party, Tide Pool Exploration, etc.

 

Campouts: There are two campouts each year: a cabin campout in the fall and a tent "roughout" in the spring. Some of the activities at the campouts include hiking, canoeing, fishing, archery, crafts, rock wall climbing, swimming, etc., depending on the camp and their facilities. The big event is the Saturday night campfire and program, followed by singing and skits by each tribe.  The campfire is also used for induction and graduation ceremonies.

 

Nation Meetings: The nation officers, along with all the tribal chiefs and assistant chiefs, attend a monthly nation meeting held at the YMCA’s facility at 13500 Quito Road, Saratoga, 408.370.1877.