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| 9/26/2007 12:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Round Rock Scouts work with Native American artist
Fifteen Scouts and Webelos from Troop 345 and some of their siblings spent an afternoon with Native American artist and sun dancer, Tim White Face, and they made shields to prove it.
"Shield, Story and Song in the Lakota Tradition" was an educational outreach event for youth sponsored by Austin Friends of Folk Art on Saturday, Sept. 15 at The WorkShop in downtown Austin.
White Face, who visited Austin from his home on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, started the afternoon with a prayer in the Lakota language, stressed the importance of treating each other and our world with respect, and then sang and drummed three songs.
"The drum represents a heartbeat," he told the group.
He showed the children how to stretch fabric around a hoop and then they decorated their shields with enthusiasm and creativity. Christian Reynolds, a fifth grader at Gattis Elementary and a member of the Dragon Den, made a reversible shield. Alex Baker covered his completely with bright squiggly lines, one Scout put a fancy "S" on his, and another drew a longhorn.
Austin Friends of Folk Art (austinfriendsoffolkart.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the knowledge, promotion and preservation of folk arts and world cultures.
"Awakening an appreciation for folk art among children is an important part of our mission," said board President Merry Wheaton.
"Scouts have to do four craft projects to earn the Craftsman badge, so this was great for us," explained Cubmaster Laura Giovannetti.
Asked what his favorite part of the afternoon was, Scout Nick Baker said, "Pretty much everything."
Troop 345 is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at St. Williams Church in Round Rock.
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