Honor The Children

Pow Wow

Native American Girl Scout Troop 389

Dora, Alabama

Please be patient as each page loads.

WELCOME From Karen & Tommy

 O'siyo (Welcome) to the Honor The Children web site. For those of you who are not familiar with the troop, as well as those of us who are, here's a bit of history to give you a better understanding of what it stands for. It's rather lengthy, but well worth it.

How It All Began

There would be no Honor The Children Pow Wow or Troop 389 if not for the dedication of two wonderful people, Karen Cooper and TJ McCarty. Let's travel back to November 1981. TJ and Karen had only been married for two weeks when they became Troop Advisors. That original troop had small beginnings; only seven girls. Of these seven, 2 were Cherokee, 2 were black and 3 were white. Most of these girls came from very poor families. Many had parents who were still children themselves. Families where drugs, alcohol and abuse were a part of daily life. The girls went on their first camping trip in March of 1982. Camping equipment was almost non-existent. Karen and TJ promised to do and go as long as the girls grades remained higher than a 'C'. The following fall, a total of 42 girls registered. Again the troop was 3/8 native, 1/2 black and 3/8 white. Family backgrounds were much the same as the previous year. Cookie sales helped to purchase much needed camping equipment. While having been advisors for years, Karen and TJ now became more involved on the council level. "We felt that if we could expose girls from the East Walker and West Jefferson county areas, they would realize they had more potential and would begin to look at achieving more than a high school education". So, in the fall of 1983, they divided the troop into two groups. Troop 395 being high school girls and Troop 391 being middle and Junior high girls. They became even more active on the council and as well as local levels. Service to others was very important. This showed true with the girls being the largest collectors on the council level for Goodwill, decorating dolls for the Salvation Army, collecting items for the homeless and helping stock local food pantries. It's important to remember that many of the girls had very little themselves. That same year two junior age girls from Cherokee families joined. In the fall of 1984, the Forestdale area of Jefferson County was added. Again, most were white.

Over time, as American Indian girls joined, Karen and TJ did their best at meeting their spiritual/learning needs. Unfortunately, these girls wanted to remain discreet about their culture/heritage. Some would even try and change their appearance so others wouldn't know they were Indian. At a camping event   in 1994, out of 22 girls, only 5 were Indian. Several things came up on this trip related to Native American teachings/beliefs. Afterwards, some went to the council saying that Karen was teaching 'weird' things to the girls. This led to a special council meeting, and a special interest group was formed on the council level related to American Indian Interest. Decisions were made as to what would be taught to the girls. (What was considered appropriate or not for non-native girls if native girls were unable to attend). Chantal Clem and Karen were the initial advisors of the American Indian Interest Group on the council level. Due to many issues relating to whom should be taught, and  what would be taught, along with the low number of girls being served, the council decided to cancel support of the Interest Group in the spring of 1996. However, many girls wanted to continue. After talking with a number of parents and girls, Native American Girl Scout Troop 389 was formed in September 1996, with Chantal Clem and Valerie Cooper also being advisors for the group. Parents signed an initial contemporary issues permission slip after the advisors talked about the fact that they might be taught things different from their own culture. Many elders, tribal leaders and members have supported the teaching/learning of the members over the years, and this troop would not be able to function without the wonderful support of all.

You may be wondering what this has to do with the Pow Wow. Be patient, it's coming. In the spring of 1998, one of the members came to the advisors and elders, wanting to do an educational day pow-wow in the local community for her Gold Award project.    After attending so many over the years, she thought it would be a great way to educate people about American Indians.  She was able to get 2 drums, head staff and traders at no cost.    Two area businesses provided food to feed the dancers, drums, volunteer staff, and traders.   The event was held on the ball field at the City Park in Dora.  The city received many compliments and people asked for the event to be done again.  This member received her Gold Award at a giveaway dinner in December 1998 and now is one of the troop advisors.   That same year another member did a beatification project for her Gold Award.

During the winter of 2000, two other troop members asked about repeating the educational day project for their Gold Award project.  They were told that they would need to expand the scope of the event.   So a three-day, Honor the Children Intertribal Pow-wow was born.           The girls divided activities related to circle or support and recruited adult and peer volunteers to assist them.   In September 2000 the event was held with 11 traders, 4 demonstrators, full head staff, 60 dancers and 3 drums.  A program was made  possible by allowing advertising of local businesses and a few traders.  Free primitive camping was available and everyone was fed well.        After the event, several adults volunteered to participate on the pow-wow committee to plan 2001.  The city approved the 2001 event the beginning of November 2000. The two girls were presented their Gold Awards on the Saturday of the pow-wow 2001.  The initial committee was 50-50 girls to adult, which grew to be 25/75 girls to adult.  The 2001 event was very successful even though there were some 6 native events within a 400-mile radius. As one person attending said, “ I am so glad I came to this one. I believe I had more fun than my friend who went to -------.”   Due to number of events at that time of year, a decision was made to move the event to the spring of the year if an inside facility could be found.  The 2002 event will be held at the Walker County Fairgrounds in Jasper on March 15-17, 2002.  The dance circle will be in the main arena, a learning area/circle will be at the stage area and a prayer circle will be outside with the traders/demonstrators.   The committee is working on head staff for this event, including process of getting Headman and headlady as well as Host Northern and Southern drums.   All traditional drums are welcome as guests.   

The girls came up with the idea of Honor the Children, since not only were they  children doing the event but also to recognize how important it is for the children to learn about their culture, language, and traditional ways.  Many felt that if their parents and grandparents had been free to learn and express the beauty of their American Indian ways they would not have the family and social issues that are present.  Many knew that their parents deny that aspect of their lives and felt that it was important for families to understand their heritage and the beauty it provides to them as a person.      Thus helping the girls to grow and become active members of their community as well as to the world around them.   The initial events were planned to pay all the bills and have a good time.  The girls and committee members are hoping over time that this event will become a financial assist to many troop members helping them to attend special learning events, including American Indian Scouting Association National Conference.      Each year a different nation hosts this event and opportunities are given for many nations to come to together to learn and understand each other as well as providing the opportunities that Girl Scouting and Boy Scouting gives to American Indian youth. "Someone asked the other day, how long TJ and I would continue to be advisors.     Guess the answer is, "as long as the Creator wants us to serve.   We have helped raise over 500 girls through high school over the past 20 years.  That   includes girls who only participated for 2 years or less. Some 85% of this 500 have earned their Silver Award (the second highest recognition to be earned) and of those some 96% have earned their Gold Award (highest recognition, similar to Boy Scout Eagle).  When you consider that Gold Award number is usually less than 10 out of 100 it's pretty amazing.       But more amazing is the fact that our teen pregnancy rate is less than 20 girls out of    500 (4%), when without Girl Scouting it would have been more than 50%. Drug and alcohol abuse is non-existent among these same girls, even when they came from families that abused.    All have completed high school, including those that were teen mothers.  Most have gone on for advanced degrees  in technical or academic areas.  Girls have learned that they are special, unique individuals that can make a difference in others lives.  They try to serve and improve their families and communities.  By raising strong knowledgeable women, we improve our community and world". 

* Home * Pow Wow Schedule * What Is A Pow Wow *

                      Dances * Etiquette * Stories * Photos *

Projects/Activities * Links

                        For questions or comments regarding this site, please contact webmaster.

Honor The Children Pow Wow ©. Copyright 2001 - 2005.  All Rights Reserved.