‘It’s sickening’: How KC-area Boy Scouts’ Mic-O-Say program demeans Native Americans

Professional sports teams and other organizations are finally making long overdue changes to offensive traditions appropriating Native American culture.

But the Boy Scouts of America appear to be clinging to outdated programs that many Native Americans consider degrading and racist, including the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, a leadership program for young men and women.

Each year, the Mic-O-Say dancers, most of whom are white, dress in Native American regalia and headdresses to perform routines and participate in other scouting activities. Notably, only the councils in Kansas City and St. Joseph participate in these long-standing camp traditions, which include dubbing camp directors and scout executives as Chiefs and Chieftains.

“It’s sickening,” Cub Scout parent Misha Blaise told The Star Editorial Board.

Blaise, an author and an illustrator who lives in Arkansas, called out the organization In a blog post on Medium last year for allowing white people to imitate Native Americans.

“Who asked the BSA to ‘preserve’ Native American traditions, and why can’t Native peoples do that for themselves?” she wrote. “Dancing, donning Native regalia, or utilizing sacred symbols (like Eagle feathers or sacred pipes) are not things that should be divorced from their particular tribal reality and religious meaning.”

‘Chief’ H. Roe Bartle was from a different era

Founded in the 1920s by H. Roe Bartle, the tribe is part of recruiting and retention efforts for the organization.

Bartle, who was known as “the Chief” in scouting circles, served two terms as mayor of Kansas City and in 1962 was instrumental in persuading the Dallas Texans football team to relocate to Kansas City. When the Texans came to Kansas City, “Chiefs” surfaced as a popular option in a contest to name the team.

But that was a different era.

This year has brought a rise in social consciousness that spurred the Washington football team to abandon its offensive nickname, and it should compel the Kansas City Chiefs to take a hard look at the Native American images and traditions associated with the team.

Likewise, the Boy Scouts of America should abandon or completely reimagine its insensitive and inappropriate tribe program.

Scout leaders should not only invite Native Americans to teach sessions about their history, but the organization also should put an end to the appropriation that is demeaning to Native people. Unfortunately, Boy Scout leaders remain committed to these offensive rituals.

Change has come ever so slowly within the Boy Scouts of America, which long declined to allow LGBTQ scouts or girls to join their ranks. But at this crucial moment, the organization can’t afford to hem and haw or delay what are obviously needed changes.

Alan Franks, Scout Executive of the Pony Express Council in St. Joseph referred inquiries to the Kansas City Heart of America Council.

Cultural appropriation confuses unique ceremonies

Brick Huffman, Scout Executive and CEO of the Heart of America Council, said the council cherishes the rich traditions and culture of American Indian nations.

“We encourage our youth, adult volunteers and staff to continually learn from, honor and respect others’ heritage and culture,” he said “The Mic-O-Say program continues to evolve with input from the American Indian community.”

The Boy Scouts of America national organization shared similar thoughts.

But until a plan of action is in place, those words don’t mean much, said Rhonda LeValdo, a faculty member at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence.

The Boy Scouts’ cultural appropriation of Native American culture is evident, she said, and leaders use Bartle, who was long-revered in scouting circles, to justify the program.

“They whitewash Native dances and call it the Indian way, when in reality there are over 500 tribes with unique languages, ceremonies and dances,” she said. “You can’t lump them all into one and say it is OK to keep perpetuating stereotypes.”

With its ceremonies, customs and traditions based on Native American culture, the Boy Scouts’ Tribe of Mic-O-Say program is long past due for a major overhaul.

This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 5:00 AM.