Third National Indian Seminar
Building on the successes of the first two events, the third National Indian Seminar was held at Beaumont Scout Reservation near St. Louis, Missouri from August 9-16, 1980. Approximately 125 participants and 67 faculty/staff members from around the country participated in the seven-day event. Like previous seminars, the central focus of the event was to train and educate Arrowmen on Native American customs, culture, and traditions. National OA Committee member and Lead Adviser for Indian Events, Don Thom along with OA Executive Secretary, Bill Downs served as Co-Directors of the seminar. Another National OA Committee member and Indian Events subcommittee member, Greg Guy, served as the seminar’s Program Director. Greg had been actively involved in the planning and administration of all previous National Indian Seminars, and Steve McMurtry (1973 deputy conference vice chief for Indian Events) once again assisted him at this event. Youth leaders for the seminar included Mark Hobgood serving as Program Staff Chief, and Peter Haines serving as Administrative Staff Chief. National Chief Jeff Herrmann spent three days at the event and was able to witness first hand the devotion to details by all participants, faculty, and staff. Several special guests and consultants were also in attendance throughout the event including Miss Melanie Tallmadge (1980 Miss Indian America); Mrs. Nettie Showaway of the Yakima Tribe; and the Order’s good friends Scott & Doris Tonemah of the Kiowa and Caddo Tribes respectively.
The cost of the seminar was $110.00 per participant, and included instruction in Indian singing, dancing, crafts, legend history, and customs. Cultural areas featured at the third National Indian Seminar were those of the Northern Plains/Plateau, Southern Plains, Northeastern, and Southeastern Indians, and participants received expert course instruction throughout the event. In addition to the instructional program, participants were given the opportunity to put their knowledge to work at three separate pow-wows throughout the week. The 1980 National Indian Seminar was an extremely successful Order of the Arrow event featuring good food, fine facilities, good camping, and excellent instruction. Any Arrowman who left the seminar feeling ‘short-changed’ had only them self to blame.
The next National Indian Seminar would be held in 1982.