History 1979 - 1988
By 1978 it had become clear that the Clan structure created in 1974 was not going to work with our declining youth membership, and was phased out over the next few years.
1980, handcrafted podium, presented at CHR, in honor of 'Uncle Chuck' Guideau for 40 years of scouting. Uncle Chuck was a longtime Arrowmen, Tonquish chapter adviser, Vigil Honor. Uncle Chuck past away in fall of 1997. The podium now is the center piece of many events at the Wyckoff Lodge.
July 1980, Flag Pole at the North West corner of Beaver Lake, was dedicated to Edward Basar II, for 25 years of faithful service to the Detroit Area Council summer camp staff. This was made possible by the Order of the Arrow, 1979 Jack Lord staff, Troop 435, Dr. Bob Finehout, Gordon W. Draper, Dan Witt, 1979 D-A Female Staff, Council Camping Committee, the Basar family and many more friends and Scouters. The flag pole mound is a raised triangle, at each corner of the cement triangle base are brass "W"s.
1981, Downriver Chapter, adopted Iroquis cabin at CHR and Beaver Creek cabin at D-Bar-A. The Chapter adopt a cabin program was later removed from active programs by the lodge due to lack of support. The council has now instituted the Cabin Endowment Program which help remodel and update older cabin for better use at our camps.
In the early 1980's we again were questioning the significance of our lodge name. Research led to the following:
- In 1937 the Detroit Aboriginal Research Club investigated an archeological site near Gibraltar, Michigan in southern Wayne County.
- A bird effigy stone pipe, usually referred to as the Eagle Pipe, was found. Many Boy Scouts were present at the time Harry Hosach found this pipe shaped like an eagle. The relic is now on display at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- The name of the newly formed Detroit Area Order of the Arrow Lodge was originally taken directly from the Frederick Baraga Grammar and Dictionary of the Ojibwa Language. In this dictionary the translation of "Eagle Pipe" is Migisi Opwagan". Some time in the first years the word for pipe was misspelled, probably because the letters "Opaw" had more meaning to an English speaking person than "Opwa".
- Other scholars such as Densmore, Campbell, Minnesota Historical Society, and Little Red Schoolhouse Graphics (an Indian language publisher), spell eagle pipe "Meegeezee Opwagun". There are small differences in meaning with the "Zee" and "gun" endings which Baraga was either unaware of or chose to ignore. However, for our purposes, it is safe to say that Migisi Opwagan means Eagle Pipe.
- It is also noted that no authority inserts hyphens anywhere in any of the words. These were probably inserted as an attempt to help in the pronunciation of the Indian words. During the early years there are lodge publications which use them and others which don't. After the flap patch came out with the hyphens, their use became predominate. To a person who went to school in the 30's or 40's the hyphens might have been helpful. Since the 1950's, however, phonics have been heavily stressed. Most of the members of our lodge under 30 know that a single vowel at the end of a syllable is usually long. This gives us the "My Guy Sy" mispronunciation so common to people unfamiliar with our name who try to pronounce it.
- The Lodge Executive committee voted to retain the name "Mi-Gi-Si O-Paw-Gan", or the use of "Migisi Opawgan" as an alternative.
The Lodge successfully went to it's current Elangomat Clan System, learning from an earlier attempt in the late 1970's. This has lead to a better understanding of the Ordeal by the candidates, an environment that encourages them to complete successfully the tests of the Ordeal, a similar and quality experience for all new members, and better planning of the Ordeal process.
In 1984 the registration method was changed to follow Council financial guidelines by having all monies sent directly to 1776 W Warren. This proved the best way to date of recording dues registrations in a timely manner. The method again went back to Lodge and Chapter Treasurer collections in 1987. Also in the fall of 1987 our council sold the Charles Howell Scout Reservation. The camp had been vandalized for many years by local teens. The property is now a developed condominium complex. The Historic Henry Ford Log Cabin (world largest when built) is now the complexes activity center.
Spring 1984, Michigami chapter donated the public address system now used at the Wyckoff Lodge.
In 1985, Chief Scott Jaynes and his advisors led the push to create the “Ken Poulson Entrance” at the Cole Canoe Base and became the first donors. Ken had served as our staff adviser for many years before retiring.
Spring 1985 - Fall 1987, the lodge helped build the Joseph Wyckoff Lodge. Joe Wyckoff was Detroit Area Scout Executive, Supreme Chief of the Fire from 1971 - 1987. Mr. Wyckoff is also a Vigil Honor member and his support over the years has help young and old understand the BSA and the OA strive to its potential.
January 1988, the dawn of a new year, meant great change in the structure of our lodge. Under a new Supreme Chief of the Fire, our chapter system went from a 12 chapters to only 5.
The city chapter went from 5 chapters to 1. The thought was to consolidate resources. This was to help the chapter the most. Each technically new chapter had to come up with a new name. The city (Achwalogen 'Hard worker'), North (Lowanue Kuwe 'Northern Pine'), South (Mahican 'Strong'), West (Wsigau 'Sunset'), East (Wapeneu 'Easterly'). The first years were hard, lodge adviser changes came sudden and surprising until recent years. The Lodge had to restructure itself. Lodge meetings were no longer at the council service center, because of fund shortage at the council office. The camping program had started to fall, service projects had not been done at our camps and the lodges favor within the council has falling.
In 1988, our lodge newsletter was renamed to draw in more interest from the membership. It went from the 'Tally-Ho' to the 'Eagle Pipe'.
