Calusas Nation Guides Award System
The following represent the levels of achievement for the Calusas Nation Guides Program. Groups are in sequential order of begining participants to senior participants. Click on groups to see details requirments.

• Group 1 - Eagle Feather Award (Solid Feathers)
• Group 2 - Eagle Feather Award (Gold Tip Feathers)
• Group 3 - Bear Claw Award
• Group 4 - Eagle Claw Award
• Group 5 - Mandan Headdress Award

Group 1 - Solid Color Feather Awards

Objective - Strengthen the Parent/Child relationship as well as initiate membership into the tribe.

Red Feather
Learn and recite before tribe the Indian name of each Little Brave and/or Princess in the tribe.

White Feather
Learn and recite all six "Y" Indian Guide Aims before the tribe.

Blue Feather
Complete three handicraft projects with Big Brave/Maiden and shared with tribe.

• Coup Stick.
• Indian Name "sign" for Big Brave/Maiden and Little Brave/Princess to be displayed as a part of the tribal "Totem Pole".
• Another craft of choice.

Yellow Feather
Good conduct (i.e., reflect "Y Indian Guides Aims) at three tribal meetings.

• Come to meeting with positive attitude and neat appearance. (Aim #1)
• Listen while others are speaking, and speak in turn. (Aim #4)
• Share materials during meeting crafts and/or be a good sport in games or play. (Aim #5)

Aqua Feather
Hike two miles with Big Brave/Maiden. Make a list of interesting things observed on the hike. Share experience with tribe.

Orange Feather
Take a camping trip for at least one night. Cook at least one meal with Big Brave/Maiden. Clean up after meal. Share experience with tribe.

Black or Brown Feather
Arrange a night off for parent/guardian not in Indian Guides. Big Brave/Maiden and Little Brave/Princess will plan, purchase, cook and serve dinner - other parent not allowed in kitchen. After serving dinner, Little Brave/Princess is to do the dishes. Share experience with tribe.


Group 2 - Gold Tip Feather Awards

Objective - Learn about Great Spirit's work.

Red Feather/Gold Tip
Feed and care for an animal solely for two weeks. Share experience with tribe.

White Feather/Gold Tip
Collect 10 different seashells. Identify each shell and display to tribe.

Blue Feather/Gold Tip
Identify 3 different types of clouds in a drawing and display to tribe. Monitor the weather for 1 week, keeping a log of rain, cloudy/sunny, high temperature and low temperature. Share experience with tribe.

Yellow Feather/Gold Tip
Collect 10 different insects. Identify each insect and display to tribe.

Aqua Feather/Gold Tip
Collect 10 different tree leaves. Identify each leaf and display to tribe.

Orange Feather/Gold Tip
Find 3 different animal tracks. Draw a picture of each track, identify and display to tribe.

Black or Brown Feather/Gold Tip
Make and display to tribe any one of the following items of Indian Lore: war shield, breastplate, necklace, armband, or Indian jewelry.


Group 3 - Bear Claw Award Necklace

Objective - Learn about the Great Spirit’s work.
The Bear Claw Award is comprised of 7 sections. After completion of each section (not necessarily completed in any order) a Bear Claw and two beads of appropriate color will be awarded. If the Little Brave / Princess has completed the group 1 and 2 Eagle Feathers, he/she is entitled to wear the Bear Claw Necklace containing the number of Bear Claws awarded to date. At the completion of all sections of the Bear Claw, the Little Brave/Princess will be recognized at the Calusas Nation Pow Wow.

Blue Bead
COOKING: Purpose - To teach Little Brave or Princess the art of cooking over an open fire, and the responsibility of a campfire. All sections to be completed with Big Brave/Maiden in attendance.

• Build a campfire with a windbreak.
• Bake potatoes or corn in an open fire.
• Cook meat (except hot dogs) over open fire.
• Put out fire and insure that it is completely out.
• Share experience with tribe.

Red Bead
SWIMMING: Purpose - To teach Little Brave or Princess how to swim and to instill confidence while in the water. Big Brave/ Maiden must be in attendance, or if Big Brave/Maiden cannot swim, a responsible adult may substitute.

• Describe how to swim out of a rip current.
• Tread water for two minutes.
• Jump into water over head and swim 25 feet (any style without touching bottom or anyone else) to any point of safety.
• In water that is at least 1 foot deeper than child is tall, retrieve 2 objects from water bottom.
• Share experience with tribe.

White Bead
INDIAN CRAFT:Purpose - To introduce Indian crafts to Little Brave/Princess.

• Make one Indian lore object (other than necklace) requiring beadwork of approximately 150 beads.
• Make one Indian lore object requiring tooling of leather.
• Display to tribe.

Turqoise
ORIENTEERING and NAVIGATION: Purpose - To teach the basics of compass use and navigational techniques in the wild.

• Learn and explain how to find direction during the day or night without a compass. Learn at least one day and one night method. Suggested methods: Shadow tip, using a watch, night sky, moon.
• Learn and explain the use of a compass.
• Draw a map from your house to an important landmark (library, school, police department, etc.) at least one mile away. Map to show the direction of north.

Green Bead
NATURE: Purpose - To teach Little Brave/Princess responsibility and to gain knowledge of why and how things grow. To be demonstrated when meeting is held at child’s home or can be done by planting pots or boxes and thereby taken to any meeting or showing pictures to the tribe.

• Prepare, plant and tend at least two plants of interest (flowers, vegetables).
• Plan with Big Brave/Maiden on the best place to plant.
• Record the following information:
• Day the seeds were planted.
• Day the first seed sprouted.
• Size of the plant two weeks after the seed(s) sprouted.
• Size of the plant four weeks after the seed(s) sprouted.
• The watering schedule during the timeframe above.
• Share experience with tribe.

Orange Bead
FISHING: Purpose - To teach Little Brave/Princess the art of fishing for pleasure and teach the responsibility that goes with fishing.

• Identify to tribe parts of rod and reel.
• Catch 3 salt (or fresh) water fish.
• Clean and prepare one fish for eating.
• Describe 3 types of salt or fresh water fish that are limited by law (either by size or number caught in a day.)
• Share experience with tribe.

Black Bead
ATHLETICS Purpose - To teach Little Brave/Princess the art of controlled physical exercise. Big Brave/Maiden to do measuring, timing and training. This can be done as a tribal project after training has been completed.

(Do 4 of 6)

• Learn how to do pushups and record the number you can do. On a subsequent day, improve that number by one and record.
• Learn how to do sit ups and record the number you can do. On a subsequent day, improve that number by one and record.
• Learn endurance running by running 1/4 mile without stopping.
• Learn how to do a running broad jump and record the distance you can jump. On a subsequent day, improve that distance by one inch and record.
• Learn how to do pull ups and record the number you can do.
• On a subsequent day, improve that number by one and record.
• Learn speed running by sprinting 40 yards and recording your time.
• On a subsequent day, improve that time by one second and record.

Group 4 - Eagle Claw Award Necklace


Objective - Learning Safety
The Eagle Claw Award is comprised of 7 sections. After completion of each section (not necessarily completed in any order), an Eagle Claw and two beads of appropriate color will be awarded. If the Little Brave/Princess has completed the group 1 and 2 Eagle Feathers and the group 3 Bear Claw, he/she is entitled to wear the Eagle Claw Necklace containing the number of Eagle Claws awarded to date. At the completion of all sections of the Eagle Claw, the Little Brave/Princess will be recognized at the Calusas Nation Pow Wow.

Orange Bead
SNAKE and SNAKE BITES: Purpose - To be able to identify all of the following snakes:

• Diamond-Back Rattlesnake.
• Pigmy Rattlesnake ("ground rattler").
• Cottonmouth Moccasin.
• Coral Snake. (Be able to describe the difference between a false Coral Snake and a true Coral Snake and relate how to identify a pit viper).
• Give brief talk on identification to tribe.
• Give brief talk on identification to tribe.
• Describe what to do when a snake has bitten someone.
• Share experience with tribe.

Yellow Bead
ROPE USE and KNOT TYING: Purpose - Learn how to tie the following knots and the proper use of each.

• Square Knot (a.k.a. Reef Knot is used to tie ends of the same rope together.)
• Two Half Hitches (used to tie tents to stakes and shortened to apply tension.)
• Fisherman’s Knot (Used to tie ends of two ropes together.)
• Bowline (Used for climbing and lifesaving. Dependable non-slip knot.)
• Clove hitch (Used to moor boats or secure rope for lashing.)
• Sheet Bend: (Used to join two ropes together.)
• Learn how to lash two poles together.
• Report and demonstrate to tribe.

Green Bead
Home Safety: Purpose - Learn what to do in case of a fire in your house. Organize and practice a fire drill with your family. Identify 3 fire hazards in your house and how to prevent them from causing fires.

• Learn what to do if a gun or other weapon is found in your house or a friend’s house. Learn and recite a minimum of 3 devices and/or good practices for insuring gun/weapon safety.
• Find and identify a minimum of 5 common household items that are poisonous and/or hazardous and learn at least on precaution for each. Learn the telephone number for the local Poison Control Center and post in a conspicuous place.
• With Big Brave/Maiden, prepare a list of steps you and your family plan to take when a hurricane is expected to strike your home.
• Share experience with tribe.

Red Bead
KNIFE AND AXE HANDLING: Purpose -To teach Little Brave/Princess how to use and care for a hatchet and knife, to teach the respect and use of a potentially dangerous tool. This can be taught by Big Brave/Maiden that has this knowledge, or be taught by the use of handbooks available at the public library.

• Know and practice handling and use of knife.
• Know and practice handling and use of hand axe or hatchet.
• Know how to sharpen knife.
• Know how to sharpen hand axe or hatchet.
• Report orally and demonstrate to tribe.

White Bead
SIGNALING: Purpose -

• Be able to communicate at least 5 words using signals by one of the following methods: hands, smoke, tom-tom, or flags and share with tribe.
• Learn emergency use of signal mirror, flare gun, and whistle and demonstrate use of one to tribe.

Black Bead
WATER SAFETY and BOATING: Purpose - To the safe way to be on the water.

• Learn three ways to rescue a drowning victim that don’t involve entering the water. Perform one method with Big Brave/Maiden (or another volunteer) as acting victim.
• Paddle a canoe or row a boat 100 yards.
• Learn and recite a minimum of 5 safe boating rules (e.g., life vests, number of people in a boat, what to do when you meet another boat, minimum equipment to carry).
• Share experience with tribe.

Blue Bead
BASIC FIRST AID: Purpose - Know what to do about the following:

• Cuts, nosebleeds, poisoning, burns, fainting, ant bites, jellyfish stings, sunburn and heat exhaustion.
• Share experience with tribe.

Group 5 - Mandan Headdress Award Necklace

Objective - Exploring the World
Upon completion of all five groups of awards the Little Brave/Princess is entitled to wear the Mandan Headdress. The Mandan Headdress is the highest award possible in the Calusas Nation and is to be awarded by the Wampum Bearer of the Longhouse at the next Nation Pow Wow following completion of all five groups. It is the responsibility of the Big Brave/Maiden and Little Brave/Princess to make or order their own headdresses and give them to the Wampum Bearer prior to the Pow Wow at which they are to be presented.

THE AMERICAN FLAG:

• What does the red stand for?
• What does the white stand for?
• What does the blue stand for?
• What do the stars stand for?
• How do you fold the flag?
• How do you display the flag?
• How do you destroy the flag?
• What does the flag mean to me?
• Sing or recite the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner.
• Share experience with tribe.

SPORTS:

• Big Brave/Maiden and Little Brave/Princess to attend 3 different sporting events.
• Learn basic rules of each sporting event.
• Learn how each sporting event is played.
• Know when and where the sporting event was held and the outcome of the sporting event.
• Share experience with tribe.

SURVIVAL:

• Learn two ways to purify water on a campout.
• Learn and identify a minimum of 5 fruits, berries, nuts or plants that are edible (need not eat them).
• Make two of the following traps and show tribe: Animal or fish trap or other means of catching same (such as handmade fishhooks).
• Learn two ways to start a fire without matches and start fire for Big Brave/Maiden using one of the ways.
• Learn 3 things to do when lost in the woods or outdoors; do not wander, stay in one place near water if possible, keep warm and dry, rig an eye catching signal like a shirt or cloth on a pole, make a noise or call out regularly while waiting and listening between calls.
• Share experience with tribe.

CANOE TRIP:

• Take a canoe trip of 10 miles with Big Brave/Maiden (10 miles one way or five miles one way and 5 miles return).
• The trip shall be by canoe or smaller type boat requiring the craft to be paddled by two people. The trip shall be over a body of water a minimum of 10 miles in length. (10 miles one way, or 5 miles one way and 5 miles return.) The trip shall be made by Big Brave/Maiden and Little Brave/Princess. If in the case of a novice and/or for safety sake, one other parent and child may be included.
• Share experience with tribe.

BIKE TRIP:

• Take a bike trip of 10 miles with Big Brave/Maiden. (10 miles one way or five miles one way and 5 miles return.)
• Give report on how to repair flat tire.
• Learn and recite a minimum of 10 bicycle safety rules (helmet use, crossing streets, which side of the road to ride, rules of the road).
• Share experience with tribe.

BACK PACKING:

• Know and report on at least two different kinds of backpacks, at a tribe meeting.
• Know and report, at a tribe meeting, on the proper clothing to be worn while backpacking, (in Florida) both during the daytime and at night. This is to include footwear, etc.
• Demonstrate, at a tribe meeting, all the equipment that you would take on a weekend backpacking trip (excluding food), and state why.
• Plan an overnight backpacking trip with Big Brave/Maiden and include your menu for at least two meals. Map out your course (at least 5-mile round trip). Everything you need must be packed in and out. Little Brave/Princess to help with all of cooking and clean up.
• Share experience with tribe.

CONSTELLATIONS:

• Identify to Big Brave/Maiden the following:
  • 5 constellations
  • 3 stars
  • 2 planets
• Draw Map of Solar System showing planets and sun (does not have to be to scale)
• Share experience with tribe.

HISTORY OF TRIBE:

• Write the history of your tribe in 500 words or more. If your tribe is extinct or the history is not available, pick a tribe that information is available on. History to include (if available) but not limited to the following:
  • Famous chief
  • Type of homes
  • Type of clothing worn
  • Area lived in Occupation
  • Present location of Tribe
  • Tribe name meaning
  • Crafts Tribe was known for
  • Clans of Tribe
  • Wars
• This report will be turned in to the Tribal Chief who will turn it into Nation Tally keeper to be included in the Talking Tom Tom (500-word minimum).