Nearly 90+ years ago, the Indian Guides and Princess program was started. This Program was based on dignity patience, endurance, spirituality, concern for family, and caring for our planet; but most importantly it focused on building a strong bond between father and child.
The program was initiated by Harold S. Keltner of the St. Louis YMCA as an integral part of association work. In 1926 he organized the first tribe in Richmond Heights, Mo., with the help of his friend, Joe Friday, an Ojibwa Indian, and William H. Hefelfinger, chief of the first Y-Indian tribe.
While Keltner was on a hunting trip in Canada one evening, Joe Friday said to his colleague as they sat around a blazing campfire: “The Indian father raises his son. He teaches his son to hunt, track, fish, walk softly and silently in the forest, know the meaning and purpose of life and all he must know, while the white man allows the mother to raise his son.” These comments struck home, and Harold Keltner arranged for Joe Friday to work with him at the St. Louis YMCA.
Four Feathers Nation located in Crystal Lake, IL serves Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Cary, Fox River Grove, Algonquin, McHenry, Huntley, and Spring Grove.
Four Feathers Nation is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3), dad volunteer-run, Father-child organization.
The Four Feather Nation has been in the Crystal Lake area since the 50s-60’s. A Photo history can be viewed on our Photo Historical page. In 2016 Four Feathers Nation became a private organization and is no longer affiliated with the YMCA.
Guides and Princesses have several events a year:
- Fall, Winter, Spring campouts
- Festival of Lights Parade
- Haunted Trail at the Sage YMCA Halloween event
- Pinewood Derby
- Daddy Daughter Dance
- More events
Event patches are provided for all Guides and Princesses vests.
The Guides Headband
The central theme of the headband is the sign of the eye of the Great Spirit surrounded by the four winds of heaven. The Feathered arrow designs which extend right and left from the central symbol represents the useful services of father and child. Whenever outstanding accomplishment existed, the Indians noted its significance was recognized, often in the form of the feathers. The fact that the father and child achievements are united in the center of the design is interpreted to mean that fathers and children together, under the eye of the Great Spirit, are seeking to help each other in the services they render.
To the right is the symbol of the mother and home. A line connects the mother symbol with the teepee, or home symbol. The Fact its is a home symbol is show by the fire in the teepee. These Symbols add to the richness of the central theme of its is in service to mother and home that many of the more significant achievements of the father and child will take place.
Far to the right are symbols of the day and forest. Far to the left are symbols of mountain, lake, field, and stream, with the moon for night. Here again, these symbols tend to enrich the central theme, giving broader scope to services by centering the efforts of father and child in village and community life, and as the ritual says “in forest, field and stream.” Briefly stated, the headband may be interpreted in these words. “Father and child, through friendly service to each other, to our family, to this tribe, and to our community, seek a word pleasing to the eye of the Great Spirit.”
Today, the headband is stitched on the back of the vest and no longer on the head.
The Princess Headband
The Indian Princess Headband design displays significant symbols of Indian Princess principles and purpose. The central theme of the headband is the symbol of the eye of the Great Spirit.
The crossed arrows to the left of the central symbol symbolize friendship. The circled heart to the right of the central symbol is the symbol of love. The fathers and daughters are symbolized next to the symbols for love and friendship which is interpreted to mean that fathers and daughters, under the eye of the Great Spirit, are seeking loving and friendly service to each other.
To the left are three teepees which are the symbol for the community. The line that joins this symbol with the symbol for father and daughter, indicates the happy work of father and daughter in the community. To the right is a single teepee, symbolizing home. Again, a line joins this symbol with the symbol for father and daughter, indicating happy work at home.
To the far right and left are symbols for the day, night, forest, mountain, field, lake, and stream.
These symbols tend to enrich the central theme, giving a broader scope to the work of the father and daughter by centering their efforts in village and community life, and, as the ritual says, “In forest, field, and stream.”
The meaning of the headband has been interpreted in the words of the Indian Princess Pledge:
“We, Father and Daughter, through friendly service to each other, to our family, to this tribe, to our community, seek a world pleasing to the eye of the Great Spirit”.
Today, the headband is stitched on the back of the vest and no longer on the head.
Four Feathers Nation 