History of the Golden Sun Lodge Medicine Pouch
Many years prior to the white mans’ arrival and afterwards, various tribes of Indians that resided on the plains wore a small pouch around their necks containing ‘strong medicine’. It was used to ward off evil spirits that could bring disease, famine, drought, and other forms of misfortune, which could decimate their tribe. This pouch was about two (2) inches wide and from one to one and a half (1 to 1 ½) inches high. It was made out of leather, usually buffalo or deer; bound by rawhide. It was attached to a leather thong so it could be worn around the neck. The ‘strong medicine’ was a small item encased within the pouch which the medicine man had given special powers.
The roots of the Sunrise Ceremony go back many years, to an organization called the Order of the Golden Suns. The Order of the Golden Suns was an honor camper society in the Cornhusker Council and was founded in 1923. It was the predecessor to our lodge and operated for 30 years before it became part of the Order of the Arrow in 1953. At that time the name was changed to the Golden Sun Lodge. Your medicine pouch carries on this tradition as brothers in our lodge.
The original Sunrise Ceremony gave the legend of “Chief Golden Sun”. It told the story of his life as a young boy and his journey to become a brave in the tribe. The legend talked of how Golden Sun grew up and learned many things with the help of everyone in his tribe. It tells of how he took a Blood Brother and went out to live in the forest to prove they were worthy of becoming warriors and of how the support of the stronger brother helped a weaker one. On the evening of their last night before returning to the tribe, Golden Sun had a dream – a vision of his mother who told him how proud she was of him, how he had lived a life following many worthy principles; principles not unlike the twelve points of the Scout Law. She reminded him of how others had helped him along the way, how they had all pulled together for the good of the tribe, and how the Great Spirit had looked upon them and provided for them – thus, reminding him of our duty to others, duty to our nation, and duty to God.
When he awoke from the dream, Golden Sun collected together several items – a piece of grass, a rock, a feather, the air, and these he put into a small pouch to wear around his neck to remind him of the vision. It was his “good medicine”.
During your Pre-Ordeal ceremony, you were given four challenges to be completed, in your Ordeal. They were: ! Spend the night alone ! Keep a pledge of silence ! Spend the day in arduous labor ! Eat nothing but the little food given you You were resolved and completed each one faithfully.
Each day as you watch the sun rise, think about the other scouts in your home unit. They are the ones who chose you for the honor. They need your leadership and your example of cheerful service. – How will you live up to their expectations each and every day? Let your medicine pouch be your good medicine to help guide you each and every day,
At the Sunrise ceremony, each candidate receives a small piece of leather with craftstrip attached. During the morning, while alone and on silence, they are instructed to find some small item to remind them of their Ordeal they are going through. This item is to be placed in the pouch formed by the leather and laved with the craftstrip. It is the tradition of our Lodge that only the person who has made the pouch should know what item is placed within. During the morning, after the ceremony, until the sun has risen to the point where it casts no shadow the candidate is instructed to carve a small arrow, which when attached to the pouch will point over the right shoulder. This is to signify the Order the candidate is about to enter. In the past, members have remade their p o u c h e s o u t o f s u c h materials as mink, calf skin, fox, and several other exotic materials. This is all right so log as the original small item is encased within the new pouch.
During your Ordeal, you may have received a totem signifying the name of your clan. This can be placed on the back of the medicine pouch to remind you of your Ordeal. Please remember that the hanging totem is reserved for Vigil Honor members, and your clan totem should only be on the back of your pouch close to your heart.
There are four main reasons for the coup beads:
- The coup beads are an outward sign of what is in that person’s heart and that is to inspire other OA members to also reach for the high places while becoming the very best they possibly can.
- They also remind the wearer they are expected to lead by their personal example. And in doing so that person is giving something back to the scouting movement.
- The other main reason we award these coup beads is because they are an outward symbol of some significant event in the OA members’ life. Very similar to the American Indians coup feathers. That person did not do something that risked his life or limb, but in earning that bead, it is a major event in that person’s life and will probably be remembered for the rest of their life.
- The coup bead is typically not represented by any other permanent patch or symbol worn on the uniform.
Camp Staff Bead
This bead is a square coup beads of any color, awarded only once to those members who have served one or more full camp season(s) as a member of the staff at a Scout camp. Year(s) of attendance to be written on the side of the bead.
Camper Bead
This bead is a round coup beads of any color, awarded once for each year a member attends a long-term council approved camp with their Troop after becoming an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow.
National Conference(s) Bead
This bead is a cylindrical coup beads, red in color with four white vertical stripes spaced equally around the beads. Beads are awarded each time a member attends a National Order of the Arrow Conference.
Military Service Bead
This bead is a cylindrical coup beads painted red, white, and blue (horizontally from top to bottom). These are awarded only once to members who have served honorably in the armed forces.
Order of the Arrow Guide Bead
This bead is a special coup bead given to those members who have served as Ordeal Candidate Guides. Only one pair may be worn.
Order of the Arrow Guide Bead
This bead is a warded after an Order of the Arrow member competes the following requirements: A. Attends Brotherhood training at the Lodge Level. B. Attends Brotherhood training at the Sectional, Regional, or National level. C. Sees one person through Brotherhood. D. Conducts First Guide Hike as in Intern or Lead for Ordeals E. Conducts Second Guide Hike as a Leader for Brotherhood Candidates.
Eagle Scout Bead
This bead is for any member attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. A cylindrical bead with Red, White, and Blue vertical lines of equal width around the cylinder.
High Adventure Bead
This bead is for attending Philmont, Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier and Summit Bechtel. A Black cylindrical bead with a horizontal white strip around the bead with the year of attendance on it. Beads are awarded each time a member attends a high adventure trek.
Wood Badge Bead
This bead is for any member completing Wood Badge. A Brown cylindrical bead with a horizontal white strip around the bead with the year of attendance on it.
National Jamboree Bead
This bead is for any member attending a National Jamboree. A Green cylindrical bead with a horizontal white strip around the bead with the year of attendance on it. Beads are awarded each time a member attends a National Jamboree.
NYLT Bead
This bead is for any member completing National Youth Leadership Training. A Purple cylindrical bead with a horizontal white strip around the bead with the year of attendance on it.
National Leadership Training Bead
This bead is for any member attending a National Leadership Training event. A Red cylindrical bead with a horizontal white strip around the bead with the year of attendance on it.
Medicine Pouch Claws
During the Ordeal ceremony, the new member is presented one claw, signifying they are an Ordeal member in the lodge. When the Ordeal member has undertaken the Brotherhood ceremony, they receive a second claw. It is now understood by all that they are a member in goodstanding. The position of the claw(s) signifies the method of entry into the lodge. Any scout who goes through the ceremony wears the claw(s) turned out. Adults wear their claw(s) pointed inward.
Eagle Claws Coloring on Ends:
1. Lodge Chief, Lodge Adviser and any youth of the lodge that is elected to a Section, Region or National OA Office will have gold tipped Eagle Claws.
2. The Lodge Vice Chief, Secretary, Treasurer and the three Chapter Chiefs will have silver tipped Eagle Claws.
3. All other members of the LEC, both youth and adult, will dip their claws in white.
4. The dip claw color is permanent, white may become silver or gold and silver may become gold, (the dipped color will not be longer than an inch up the claw).