Y-Indian Program History

"The Indian father raises his son. He teaches his son to hunt, to track, to fish, to walk softly and silently in the forest, to know the meaning and purpose of life and all that he must know, while the white man allows the mother to raise his son." These chance remarks made in the early 1920s by Ojibway Indian hunting guide Joe Friday to Harold Keltner, a St. Louis YMCA director, struck a responsive chord...... remainder of story

YMCA Programs and their purpose

Each year, nearly 5,000 families participate in these programs that build lifelong values and strengthen the bond between parent and child. These Parent-Child Programs have been offered in Orange County since the late 1930s.... more info regarding each Y program

Responsible use of the Indian Theme

Since the Y-Indian Guide program began in 1926, it has helped thousands of children and parents build strong relationships. The program was developed to support parent’s vital role as teacher, counselor, and friend to their children.

While the Indian Guide program was designed to honor American Indian values and culture, some people have found the use of the theme inappropriate and offensive.

No Y-Indian Guide staff person, volunteer or participant intentionally sets out to mock or denigrate Native Americans and yet, due to a lack of understanding and guidance, some of these individuals have made mistakes.

YMCAs want to do the right thing. Adopting character development has inspired us to take a close look at ourselves and our programs to ensure our actions and attitudes are honest, caring, respectful and responsible. Reviewing, and if necessary revising, our Indian Programs is just one way to do so. By making the changes suggested in this paper, we can ensure our programs remain viable and continue to strengthen parent-child relationships for years to come. ... more