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Lodge History
Gila Lodge #378 was founded in early 1947 with the first Ordeal held at Camp
Zach White in February of that year. The Lodge was asked to assist the National
Park Service and the University of New Mexico in the excavation and restoration
of the Gila Cliff Dwellings. George E. McDonald was the first Lodge Chief, and
Mike Ramirez was the second. Legend has it that during a rest break while
working on the restoration, Mike and George made bow and arrow for a ceremony.
They saw a snake hiding under a rock and decided to shoot it with the bow and
arrow and cook it for dinner. George flipped the rock but when Mike shot, he
missed the snake but killed a large bug. The Indian pictograph of the wilderness
looks like a bug, and this became the totem of the Gila Lodge
Nesatin Chapter Name
The Nesatin Chapter is one of six chapters in the Gila Lodge.
Most other chapters have the same name as their district. Since Polaris
is not considered an Indian name, "Nesatin" was chosen. This choice was made many moons ago probably in the very early
1950s shortly after the Gila Lodge was founded in 1948. The name Nesatin is Indian in origin, probably Navajo and means
"At The Foot Of The Mountain" The early members of the Chapter wore turquoise colored Navajo
tunics tied with a black sash until 1977. Many thanks to Chuck Dellert and Bill Harty for this information.
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Lodge Awards:
Lou Duncan Service Award - In honor of Lou Duncan, a great scouter
of the Yucca Council, and past Adviser of Gila Lodge. Lou was to
be the first recipient of a special service award, but he passed away before
he could receive it. The award was then named in honor of him, because
of his great service to Scouting and the Order of the Arrow.
Lodge Customs and Traditions:
Ordeal candidates carve a Gila Bug and wear it throughout their
Ordeal.
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