Most Native American dream catchers include bead and feather adornments.
Being a Girl Scout is about learning, helping others and developing an appreciation for nature and culture. By introducing Native American crafts and cooking to your troop, you can start a conversation about Native American customs and history while your girls enjoy learning new hands-on skills. Help your Girl Scouts understand Native American culture and its influence on the United States of the past and the present.
Dream Catchers
In Native American cultures, a dream catcher snares bad dreams, only allowing good ones to pass through. To make a dream catcher, each girl will need a bendable, foot-long twig, three feet of twine, a few inches of wire, beads and feathers. Help the Scouts make hoops from their twigs, using wire to bind the ends together. Instruct the girls to tie one end of the twine to the outside of their hoops and string two beads on the loose end. Wrap the loose end of the twine around the opposite end of the hoop and add a few more beads. Wrap the twine again around a different spot on the hoop. Continue until you have a webbed pattern. Tie shorter lengths of twine to the bottom of your hoop, trying on decorative beads and feathers.
Mini Woven Baskets
In Native American cultures of the past and present, baskets are considered both useful and beautiful. Used for carrying and storing crops, baskets made by Native American women often feature intricate patterns that require considerable skill to replicate. With just a glue gun, foam circles, raffia (or other bendable material for weaving) and scissors, Girl Scouts can make simple, mini replicas of traditional baskets that are perfect for SWAP sessions. Whenever Girl Scouts gather at large events with other troops, girls usually exchange small handmade gifts with each other. According to the official Girl Scouts website, the word SWAPS stands for "Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere." Gifts usually have safety pins so girls can attach them to shirts, hats or badge scarves.
Start with the Mini Basket Pattern from the MakingFriends.com website (see the Resources section). Once you cut out the triangles, weave a thin raffia strip in and out of the triangle spaces, pulling tight so that the edges bend upward to form a basket shape. Use hot glue as you go to help the basket hold its form. Once the basket is finished, attach a safety pin.
Talking Stick
Many Native American tribes have used a talking stick to indicate which tribe member currently has the right to speak. The chief began tribal meetings while holding the stick himself. He would then pass the stick, and the privilege to speak, to a fellow tribe member. Girl Scouts can make their own talking sticks with suede cord, hot glue, sticks, pony beads, bear claw beads, feathers and faux fur. Wrap a strip of fur along the bottom end of a stick, using glue to hold it in place. Bind the fur more tightly to the stick using a short piece of suede cord. At the other end of the stick, wrap around a longer piece of suede cord, leaving one end dangling free. Slide on the bear claw and pony beads, and tie a feather at the end of the dangling cord to complete the craft.
For added authenticity, use pony bead colors that hold symbolic meaning for Native Americans. According to MakingFriends.com, yellow represents sunrise (the East), red signifies sunset (the West), white represents snow (the North) and green signifies grass (the South).
Fry Bread
This recipe for Native American fry bread uses hot oil, so adult supervision and assistance are important. In a bowl, combine 3 cups flour and 2 tbsp. baking powder. Gradually work in 1 tbsp. shortening and add salt to taste. Use wet hands to work the dough and form smooth, lemon-sized balls. Brush with a bit of extra shortening and let the balls stand for 45 minutes. Flatten them so they are about 3 inches thick, and poke holes in the center. According to the Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council, Native Americans believed these holes let out "chindi" (spirits) and helped the bread cook properly.
Fry in 2 inches of hot oil until brown on each side, turning once while cooking. Place on paper towels to drain and serve with butter, cinnamon and jam.
Jerky
Native Americans ate jerky as a source of protein, especially in winter months when fresh meat was more scarce. According to the Girl Scouts San Diego-Imperial Council, you can make their own jerky using a simple recipe. Get adult troop leaders to cut beef or chicken into very thin slices. Have the girls tear the meat into strips, and prepare a very salty brine (1 cup water mixed with 2 cups salt). Optionally, the girls can add soy sauce, garlic, barbecue sauce, teriyaki suace or other seasonings, although Native Americans only used salt. Soak the meat in the brine for 24 hours, occasionally stirring the mixture. Let the jerky dry in the sun or in the oven at a very low temperature for 24 hours, until crispy on the outside.
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