American Indian folklorist Jimmy Redblood Adkins entertained and educated Cub Scouts attending camp at St. Francis in the Field Methodist Church in St. Johns County. Here he teaches Indian sign language to Scouts Kyle Thompson, Matthew Paul, Joshua Mazzattta, Nathan Ventouras, James Cody Langston, Rowan Fitch, Cole Rieger, Michel Leisle, Parker Webb, Andrew Brown, Dean McCarthy, Austin McLeod and Steffen Shivers. MARK PETTUS/My St. Johns Sun
Osceola played host to a member of a different tribe this week, and a bunch of young honorary members, too.
The Osceola District of the North Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which represents all of St. Johns County, held its annual Cub Scout day camp this week at St. Francis in the Field Episcopal Church on Palm Valley Road. On Monday, the scouts got a visit from Johnny Redblood Adkins, an American Indian folklorist who is a member of the Chickahominy tribe.
Adkins taught the Scouts how to perform traditional music using hand- made instruments, including a deer-skin drum, deer-hoof bells and wooden rattles, and had them perform a traditional dance with him. He also taught the scouts the origins and meaning of his clothing, which was traditional Chickahominy garb.
American Indian folklorist Jimmy Redblood Adkins entertained and educated Cub Scouts attending camp at St. Francis in the Field Methodist Church Monday. MARK PETTUS/My St. Johns Sun
Adkins is an Eagle Scout, and a member of the Turtle/Bear Clan, a part of the Chickahominy tribe from Virginia. He now lives in Palm Beach County and makes his living as a professional folklorist; traveling the nation and the world teaching Native American history and culture, and performing Indian dances and songs.
Adkins said he was part of a group of Indian singers who traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in November to sing an Indian song honoring American warriors fighting in the Iraq War.
He will spend the rest of the summer visiting Boy Scout camps throughout Florida before heading west for a series of appearances in Oklahoma, Wyoming, Montana and Canada.
Time on the shooting range was part of the camp experience for 141 scouts from St. Johns County. MARK PETTUS/My St. Johns Sun
In addition to Indian lore, the Cub Scouts spent the week learning archery, leather-craft, marksmanship, playing sports and enjoying water-slides brought in to help fight the summer heat. A total of 141 scouts attended the St. Johns County camp.
— MARK PETTUS
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