2022 Year in Review
Tom Holley
Recording Medicine Man Black Shirt
We started our 2022 camping season on June 10 with the Tribal Celebration. Saturday evening at the Chieftain’s Ceremony, Zachary Shafran, Chieftain Silent Fighting Copperhead, was named as the Presiding Chieftain. Also, that night there were 35 Sachems, 18 Keepers of the Wampum, and 9 Sagamores.
During the four sessions of camp the Blue Elk Records Center sent out the call for 488 new Foxmen who proudly hung a medicine stick around their neck for the first time. Next came the 609 who became tribesmen as new Braves. Five hundred forty-eight Braves returned to complete their journey to wear the double claws of a Warrior.
Two hundred thirty-four men completed the program to become Honorary Warriors in the tribe. One hundred twenty-nine women also entered the tribe as Honored Women. Nine of those new Honorary Warriors and Honored Women had earlier entered the tribe as Braves and finally returned to the Reservation to complete their journey to Warrior. The Honorary Warriors, Honored Women, and new Braves gave us 972 new tribesmen. Additional calls were made in Lone Bear Council Ring for 336 Firebuilders, 245 Tom-Tom Beaters, 141 Runners, 100 Keepers of the Sacred Bundle, and 53 Shamans.
With the Tribal Council staff elevations, the elevations of those who could not attend Celebration and those from Celebration, the total Tribal Council elevations for 2022 was 63 Sachems, 19 Keepers of the Wampum, 9 Sagamores, and 1 Chieftain. The list of Tribal Council elevations can be found on the 2022 Tribal Council Elevations page.
Coups were awarded at night two campfires in each campsite. Members were awarded:
- 276 Eagle Scout Coups
- 108 Religious Award Coups
- 121 Den Chief Coups.
Before the Brave and Warrior ceremonies 209 Coup of the Long Trail were presented to Tribesmen from 66 different Troops and during the summer 286 younger members returned to the Reservation for the first time since becoming a Warrior to make their Coveted Coup feather and receive their first pair of Coveted Coup.
The training team was busy in 2022 with 62 members attending New Sachem Orientation and 197 attending Tribal Council Training. The Tribal Council Reflections after Brave Resolutions continued this year These sessions were well attended and continued to receive many positive comments.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making 2022 another successful year for Micosay. I want to also say thank you to the Blue Elk Records Center staff, the Great Hall and Blue Elk Lodge Commissioners, and all others that helped me during the summer.