Boy Scouts’ Mic-O-Say tribe honors, doesn’t demean Native American culture and rituals

Sometimes even the venerable Kansas City Star Editorial Board gets it wrong. Its recent editorial accusing and criticizing the local Boy Scouts of America’s Tribe of Mic-O-Say for demeaning and culturally appropriating Native American culture is not only off base in its conclusions — it falls well short of rudimentary standards in trying to explain its position.

Blanket condemnation of Mic-O-Say without providing context and a thoughtful and thorough explanation of its goals and the respectful rituals it employs to attain them is wrong and biased in its own right. The editorial failed in providing that crucial information to its readers. The two critics it quoted do not provide any explanation of their own personal familiarity and experience with Mic-O-Say. Essentially, their argument is that if something is Native American-related, then only Native Americans have exclusive rights to it, regardless of context. I doubt that anyone would look too kindly if Judaism similarly argued exclusive rights to monotheism.

Mic-O-Say is a positive, ultra-successful young adult development program that adds a spiritual (but not religious) component to its instruction. The fact that so many young men have proudly participated in this program over the decades and continue thereafter to proclaim its positive influence throughout their lives stands as a testament to the respect and honor it pays to Native American ideals and traditions. This is no “cowboys and Indians” game, nor can it be placed in the same category as the Chiefs’ tomahawk chop or now-retired derogatory name used by Washington’s NFL team. The distinctions here are important, lest we find ourselves also needing to rename Kansas and Missouri, too.

Mic-O-Say has respectfully introduced and educated many scouts about Native American ways that have in turn inspired personal growth, formed lifelong friendships, introduced the concept of spirituality, nurtured a love of nature and encouraged living a life filled with noble pursuits.

Honoring and sharing a heritage through emulation and imitation, done in a respectful, non-demeaning way and for good purposes, should not be considered cultural appropriation or even cultural mimicry. Borrowing good things with attribution and using them for good purposes is not stealing.

However, this is not to say that Mic-O-Say should not update and reflect on itself. Today, optics do matter, as does substance. Mic-O-Say needs to be viewed as an organization that honors and respects selected aspects of Native American traditions and rituals, rather than simply co-opting them. Mic-O-Say needs to include Native Americans both in participatory and advisory roles to make certain that its own perceptions of what is respectful and non-demeaning are accurate. This process need not be difficult.

With better communication and understanding of the Native American community, better public relations with respect to a 21st-century world and inclusivity that pays proper tribute to the origins and rituals that have played such a huge role in its success, Mic-O-Say can remain a relevant and positive force in young people’s lives.

Mark L. Willens is a lifelong Kansas City resident, attorney, Eagle Scout and member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. His tribal name is Tom-Tom Beater Least Flying Red Ember.

This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Boy Scouts’ Mic-O-Say tribe honors, doesn’t demean Native American culture and rituals."