Blessed honored Pioneers
Bear with a short history lesson, there is a point regarding the Pony Express Council, and the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.
One week from today, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will celebrate Pioneer Day, which was the day that Brigham Young saw the Salt Lake Valley for the first time and proclaimed it to be the home and refuge of the members of the restored Church, which had been driven from Illinois to the Council Bluffs area, and ultimately west.
Being a pioneer isn't easy. The Latter-Day Saints blazed a trail opposite the Oregon Trail across the plains, and made the turn to the Salt Lake Valley. They planted crops along the way for future travelers. They arrived in a location that many of the most faithful were ready to turn around and go back to the persecution they experienced. They didn't. And while they suffered, and many died, the settlement took hold, survived, and is now a vibrant city in in the Great Basin.
So what does that have to do with the Council and the Tribe?
Last Friday night we had the opportunity to honor a pioneer of Mic-O-Say. Runner Locust Song, Roy Elkins, was present. He was in the inaugural class of Runners, as Paint Stations in the Tribe were introduced for the first time in 1948. For those that don't know. Runners, identified by Blue Paint on their claws, are the ones responsible for the care and shepherding of those seeking membership in the tribe, the Foxmen. The responsibility is enormous, to say the least.
Today, there are retreats, and training sessions for those with that responsibility. They are trained, and trained in Youth Protection, Youth on youth protection, and general guidance on how to "run". The Tribe recognizes the importance of all of that in keeping these youth safe. Things have changed significantly since I was a Runner (1982-85), and mostly for the better. Salt Pills, anyone? But imagine this..
You have just been given a job that there really isn't much of written guidance to do. How hard would that have been, do you think? It would have taken years, likely, to really hammer down the "dos" and "don'ts" of running. Mistakes made, learned from. Probably some large sized growing pains in the paint station, to ultimately evolve to what we have today. It would have been very difficult, I imagine, to wear those shoes, knowing you were the first, and that you are setting the tone for generations.
Of course, there are pioneers of every age, and that was also discussed during ceremonies, notably the evolution of the responsibilities and "prestige" if you will, of the Keepers of the Sacred Bundle. I witnessed much of that, as I remember when Keepers were few and far between, and how the paint station became what it is today.
Today, we have pioneers, and no surprise, but they are Runners too, in camp. Girls became part of the program in 2019. That included girls in the Geiger Staff in Training program (GSIT), and last year, for the first time, on Staff, though that in and of itself requires a little explanation, and clarification.
Since the Boy Scouts of America have allowed women to lead in the BSA program, there have been women on staff. And women have been inducted into the Tribe of Mic-O-Say for many summers. When BSA announced they were changing the program to add girls, and renaming it Scouts BSA, planning began for Mic-O-Say to induct young women (under 18) into the tribe. There were many involved in that process, but I want to point out a few of these pioneers, and how that looks today.
This year, there are three young women that are on the summer Camp Geiger Staff full time. Two of them started the season as Runners, being the first, and the other a Tom Tom Beater. These youth (well they seem like youth, though all are over 18) have been tremendous assets to the staff, with two returning from full time staff duty last year. Raven, Runner Spirit of Fire and Allison Runner Least Long Feather, are in their second year on staff, while Taylor, Runner Little Village Guard, participated in the GSIT program last year. They are true pioneers, in the sense that they are the first girl Runners of the Tribe. The way the program is established, girls attend camp the 4th and 6th Sessions, and that is when these outstanding youth get to shine in their blue paint.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention two others. These two sat in council on how to establish the program, and yes there were others, but what differentiates these individuals, is that they were elevated last year as the first women Sachems in the tribe. Tribal Council. White Paint. They are true pioneers; in that they have sat in council on the process, as well as selection of young women for membership and elevation in the tribe. Tracy, Ena Buffalo Canoe, and Mary, Tawicu Roaring Buffalo, have helped shepherd this change in the program.
Like Runner Locust Song of so many decades ago, they are treading a trail that was largely unmarked when they started it. As the trail is increasingly marked and expanded, it will be easier for those that come later to follow and improve upon. The standard bearers today struggle, just as the pioneers of old, but they do so, knowing that it isn't for today that they work, but for tomorrow.
There is a Latter-Day Saint hymn "They, the Builders of the Nation" Hymn 36, that came to mind, and let me just list the lyrics of the first verse.
They, the builders of the nation,
Blazing trails along the way;
Stepping-stones for generations
Were their deeds of ev’ry day.
Building new and firm foundations,
Pushing on the wild frontier,
Forging onward, ever onward,
Blessed, honored Pioneer!
I think it is fitting. What do you think? Below is a link to the song, performed by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
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