Migisi Opawgan
The Detroit Area Council received a charter to create an Order of the Arrow lodge in the summer of 1939. Inductions for the new lodge were held at the Detroit Area Council’s two summer camps – Charles Howell Scout Reservation and Camp Brady. The initial inductions were assisted by the Munhake Lodge in Ann Arbor and the Chippewa Lodge in Pontiac. Throughout the summer, the lodge continued to initiate its own members.
The new lodge selected its name and totem as Mi-Gi-Si O-Paw-Gan, meaning “Eagle” and “Peace Pipe” in 1941. The name comes from the Ojibwa Language. The hyphens were removed from the lodge’s name in the 1980s. Eagles and Peace Pipes figured prominently in most lodge insignia during its 70 years. The Lodge was assigned number 162.
Continuing on its initial foundation at Boy Scout Summer Camp, Migisi Opawgan continued to provide service to the Detroit Area Camps. Although camps Brady and Howell were closed in 1959 in 1986, the council acquired different camps which the lodge served. The lodge worked to support the summer camps at D-bar-A Scout Ranch starting in 1951 and Cole Canoe Base starting in 1969.
Migisi Opawgan was involved in the construction and funding of many major projects and Detroit Area Camps. Charles Howell Scout Reservation’s O-A Cabin was funded by Migisi Opawgan and its members. At D-bar-A Scout Ranch, the lodge was responsible for the construction and maintenance of a 10 mile hiking trail, the funding, construction, and staffing of the Thomas D. Trainor Scout Museum, and provided the labor for many other projects. Many of the lodge’s projects were developed over many years. The initial six mile loop of the Pedro Trail was completed in 1991. It was expanded to 10 miles ten years later. A fire bowl at D-bar-A’s Trout Lake was completed in 1995 and expanded in 2003.
Migisi Opawgan had many administrative structures in place, each representing the needs of the Council and its members. As the lodge grew, the initial camp based chapters were replaced by divisions of the council’s territory. At times, each chapter served one or more of the council’s districts. In 1974, a clan structure was adopted to provide a layer of administration between chapters and the lodge. When lodge membership declined this level of organization was no longer necessary.
In addition to providing service to Council Camps, Migisi Opawgan participated in regional and national Order of the Arrow Activities, beginning as the host of the first Michigan State Conclave, held in 1947. Nine members of Migisi Opawgan have been presented with the Order of the Arrow’s Distinguished Service Award.
Migisi Opawgan also hosted annual Pilgrimages to the council’s Abraham Lincoln statue which was on display at Charles Howell Scout Reservation and later moved to D-bar-A Scout Ranch. The Lodge and its chapters also hosted fellowship events for its members. This event was continued by the Noquet Lodge which is the successor to Migisi Opawgan after its merger with the Chippewa Lodge.
Migisi Opawgan recognized its members at an Annual Awards banquet. Awards were presented to youth and adult leaders, lodge and chapter officers and committee members, and those who had distinguished themselves in outstanding ways. Awards included the Robert Rutherford Service Award, the Russell Neynaber Award, the Harold Oatley Service Award (formerly Arrowman of the Year Award), and the Extended Elangomat Award.
Read more about this topic: Great Lakes Field Service Council, Order of The Arrow, Noquet Lodge 29