Our Patches

Kids love patches, and we have lots of them! Our patches include event patches, program patches, and patches for completion of specific goals.

The Program Patch

The basic design of the patch is that of an Ojibway Medicine Wheel as gifted to the NATIONAL LONGHOUSE® programs by June Friday-MacInnis. The patch elements and their meaning are as follows (from center, outwards):

Sacred Turtle

The Turtle symbolizes the bringing forth of the first land mast from the bottom of the Sea. The seven sections of the shell represent their eventual separation which formed the seven continents.

Great Spirit

The Turtle sits on the Eye of the Great Spirit, who's blue color represents the Sea. The blue points of the Great Spirit symbolizes the four Spiritual Directions: East - the beginning of life from where the Sun rises; South - change from the southern winds bringing forth seasonal renewal to the Earth; West - the path of souls where Man must cross a body of water for his soul to enter the spirit world; North - completes the Circle of Life and represents strength and endurance.

Humankind

The Spiritual Directions point to the four colors of Man. The Eye of the Great Spirit is watching over the four races from all directions. The green outer rim of the Medicine Wheel circles the four races of Humankind and ties them together in brotherhood.

Six Colors

Each of the six colors represents one of the Ojibway's "Six Aims": White - symbolizes Purity to the Ojibway as with their belief of Purity of Heart, represented in the first Aim; Black - symbolizes Foundation to the Ojibway as with their belief of maintaining a strong, iron-like bond between parent and child, represented in the second Aim; Red - symbolizes Love to the Ojibway as with their belief of the love that flows through the blood of one's Sacred Family Circle, represented in the third Aim; Yellow - symbolizes Illumination to the Ojibway as with their belief of being bright and attentive to the messages and signs provided by the Great Spirit, their fellow man, and their surroundings, represented in the fourth Aim; Blue - symbolizes Healing to the Ojibway as with their belief of resolving friction and maintaining harmony with all who are blanketed under the blue Sky, represented in the fifth Aim; Green - symbolizes Growth to the Ojibway as with their respect for their environment and taking only what they need, represented in the sixth Aim.

Feathers

The attachable feathers indicate which of the four program versions the wearer is enrolled. It also allows the Medicine Wheel Patch to be personalized. Each family participant is represented by a feather. The child participant would attach two feathers to his or her Medicine Wheel Patch: one to represent the child (Son or Daughter feather) and one to represent the Father. The parent would attach two or more feathers; one to represent himself and one for each enrolled child. A dad enrolled with one son would have a Dad and Son feather. A dad enrolled with two sons would have a Dad and two Son feathers. If the parent used the same vest for two programs, both a Son and Daughter feather could be added.

The Headband

Center to Left Side

Creation of the Program

The Great Spirit inspired and provided direction to the National Longhouse Council, who talked among themselves until they discovered the NATIVE SONS AND DAUGHTERS PROGRAMS® activity. They invited the dad, son, & daughter . . . and the mom, son, & daughter . . . to come join the new program with other families, so they could become a tribe, and enjoy sociability with one another, along with activities around a campfire.

Center

The Great Spirit is the focal point of the headband. The waves radiating from the Great Spirit symbolizes His love. As with the Ojibway, the color red is used to represent Love. The waves also provide a path for the storyline and help to segregate the pictographs into sections.

Center to Right Side

Creation of the World

(Based upon Genesis)

In the beginning, the Great Spirit created the Earth Lodge. He commanded there be light and called it Day to separate it from the darkness which He call Night. This was the first day. He then separated the Sea from the air and called the heavens Sky. This was the second day. On the third day, He raised an Island from the Sea and covered it with Grass, Trees and Corn. On the fourth day, He placed lights in the Sky - a bright Sun for the Day and a dimmer Moon and Stars for the Night. On the fifth day, He placed the Fish in the Sea and the White Hawk in the Sky. On the sixth day, He provided Antelope and created Man and Women in His likeness to rule over what he had just created. On the seventh day, having been pleased with what He created, He rested.

The Great Eagle Feather

Feather	Activity
Black / Red Stripe	Awarded for participation in a community function (parade, community clean-up, etc.).
Black / White Stripe	Awarded to daughter/son when s/he reports to the tribe on the history or culture of her/his tribe or the Native American.
Black / Yellow Stripe	Awarded to daughter/son for serving as a tribe officer (or with father) for a year.
Blue / White Stripe	Awarded to daughter/son when s/he reports to her/his tribe on one of her/his hobbies.
Blue / Black Stripe	Awarded when daughter/son can recite the program names of all other daughters/sons in her/his tribe.
Brown / White Stripe	Awarded when son/daughter has attended three longhouse events.
Green / Black Tip	Awarded for completion of parent/child handicraft for personal or tribal use which is not a meeting project.
Green / White Tip	Awarded when a piece of tribal equipment is completed (drum, totem, shield, etc.) -- All sons/daughters in tribe participate.
Green/ Black Stripe	Awarded to son/daughter for public service that seeks, preserves or promotes the Great Spirit's work.
Red / White Stripe	Awarded to son/daughter when he/she reports to his/her tribe on a community point of interest.
Red / Black Tip	Awarded for perfect attendance at regularly scheduled tribal meetings (9 consecutive meetings).
White / Blue Tip	Awarded for bringing new son/daughter into the NS&D Program or attending a recruiting rally.
White / Brown Tip	Awarded when parent and child have completed a nature project together and explain it at a tribe meeting.
White / Red Tip	Awarded when son/daughter can recite a tribal ritual (Six Aims AND pledge, opening and closing prayer).
Yellow / Black Tip	Awarded when parent and child have visited another tribe (or when tribes organize a joint meeting).
Yellow / Red Tip	Awarded to each son/daughter for the display of tribal handicraft at a public or NS&D function.
Great Eagle Feather	Awarded when all other feathers have been earned.