Native Culture in the OA

What Practices are Considered Inappropriate?

• A lodge may only use the Native culture of a single local tribe with which it has a written agreement, and only those cultural elements approved by that agreement.
• Pan-Indian practices — such as modern powwow regalia, dance, drum, and singing — are inappropriate.
• Any use of Native American words is inappropriate.

What is the Logic Behind these Restrictions?

What is the Effect of These Restrictions on Lodges and OA Members?

What is the Effect of These Restrictions on Native Tribes and Culture?

For kids to dress up in a costume is appropriate if they are learning about other cultures. Particularly in a play. Why not Native American?

What OA members in the above photo are wearing is regalia. Against the rules. But I’m questioning the rules. I have no doubt that, typically, such regalia is based on detailed instructions that came, ultimately, from Native Americans. That there are members of their local tribes who wear similar. My issue is not with the value of getting advice from Natives. It is the arbitrary rule that pan-Indian regalia is forbidden, but regalia purely historical of the local tribe is not.

Again, it is a strong disadvantage for the tribes for those outside of the tribes to have little familiarity with their culture.

It is racist to suggest that only those with Native blood can wear particular clothing. Honor their traditions. Follow their advice. But do I need permission from the Italian government to cook spaghetti?

How do we know that none of those Scouts in that picture of Occoneechee Lodge are Native Americans? Many with Native ancestry were encouraged to discover their roots by becoming OA members. I know a guy like that who is now a clan chief and spiritual leader of his tribe. Which would never have happened if he hadn’t been in the OA.

Do you have any idea how much work went into the creation of the items of regalia they are wearing?

Explicitly states 1/1/2026 as the date by which lodges using Indian regalia for any purpose must have an agreement with a tribe:

https://oa-scouting.org/resources/aia-policy

Allows Native regalia to be used as one alternative for OA ceremonies, with a desire for it to be local (and by implication cannot be pan-Indian):

https://oa-scouting.org/resources/inductions/approved-attire

Now this page does NOT have a “required by date”. But since it refers to local Native dress, it’s obviously the date by which the agreement must exist, which is 1/1/26.

Please note that I am a well-established Induction expert. But I’m neither an AIA expert nor a person of authority. Closer to a persona non grata. A voice crying in the wilderness.

Powwow dance and regalia is forbidden after 12/31/25. They were not breaking the rules. We just had a section leadership conference with what was advertised as the last powwow on the section level. (First was 1945.) The OA Chair was here. It was understood as being above board.