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The Chief Seattle Council created a very special set of Jamboree Council Shoulder Patches (or "JSP's") for the 2001 Jamboree. This section describes the 2001 patch set.
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The Chief Seattle Council produced a set of special Jamboree Shoulder
Patches for the 2001 Jamboree. The designs are
based on the unique and fascinating artwork and legends of the
Native Americans of
the Pacific Northwest Coast. Each of our four troops
picked one of the designs as their totem, but all six were
produced and made available for purchase.
The patches are extremely high quality work, using very heavy stitching and an extraordinary level of detail. They are shown and discussed below. In addition to the 7-color versions available at the Jamboree, 200 sets were produced using only the more "traditional" red, white, and black. A portion of these were given to the adult leaders and various key volunteers who aided the Chief Seattle Jamboree effort. As additional background info, three different manufacturers were utilized, but one of the manufacturers did not deliver their order. The other two manufacturers did deliver, 100 sets each. One of these manufacturers produced the patches at the size we intended, 5-1/2 inches wide. The other manufacturer shrunk the design slighty to be 5 inches wide, which is also what the manufacturer of the original 7-color did. Thus, there ended up being three varieties: the 7-color originals, the 3-color (red-white-black) same size as originals, and the 3-color "wide" version. As if that wasn't enough variation, we have since discovered that, for the wide version, the manufacturer somehow created two different versions of the Wolf patch. A small salmon is pictured on the Wolf patch, and is supposed to have a white belly and black back. But on some of these, the salmon's body is almost entirely white. Since this variation was not discovered until after a significant number of the patches were distributed to volunteers, there is no way to track how many have the all-white salmon versus the white-and-black salmon. The best guess is that there are roughly equal numbers, as the remaining wide sets appear to be split evenly between the two types. Of course, this could mean that there were significantly more of one type and that's what ended up being sent out, but the issue may be irrelevant since what is left still available is roughly evenly split. ORDERING INFORMATION The "regular issue" 7-color sets are now sold out. There are about 30-40 of each of the RWB sets still available for purchase. This means three varieties: the "narrow" (same width as the 7-color patches) red-white-black JSP set, the "wide" red-white-black JSP set with white-only salmon on the Wolf patch, and the "wide" red-white-black JPS set with black-and-white salmon on the Wolf patch. All sets are available with no limits, first-come, first-served, postage paid, for $30 per set regardless of the variation you choose. You can order whatever number and combination of sets you want. The price includes postage and handling. The OA flap sets are also available at $13 per set, also post-paid. Note: patches are sold in complete sets only! So if you want both varieties of the wide set, you have to order both complete sets. To order, first send mail to James Prekeges indicating how many you want of each, to make sure there are enough remaining. He will reply with confirmation and specific ordering instructions. Again, all proceeds will go into the Chief Seattle Council's campership fund for sending minority and disadvantaged Scouts to the next Jamboree. And one last note about versions of the Chief Seattle JSPs. Prior to the Jamboree, a high-level professional in the council office ordered approximately three hundred of a color variation of the Dogfish design. This was done against the expressed wishes of both the artist and the Jamboree Committee Chair. These patches were given away to adult leaders who had attended a certain number of District Roundtables, and were not made available to the Jamboree participants. This version can be distinguished by the fact that the green used was a bright "emerald green" rather than the more subdued "moss green" used in the official Dogfish Jamboree patch. It will be left up to the individual collector to decide whether this constitutes an "official" variety, since it was produced by the council, but not by the Committee that created the originals, and it was not made available to the Jamboree participants. In any case, we are sorry to say that we have none of these available for sale. |
(Click on a picture to see an enlarged version; use the browser "Back" button to return.)
WOLF - Troop 720
Click here for 3-color version |
The Wolf was revered because of its hunting prowess. Legend has it that killer whales came from wolves that transformed themselves. Pacific Northwest Coast Indians felt that a man who could acquire a wolf's spritiual power would himself become a great hunter. Typical of Northwest Coast art, the subject is repeated within itself. The two wolf heads facing each other also act as an eye and an ear for a larger Wolf looking straight at you. The large ears, very large canine teeth, and curled tail (upper left) are all characteristics of the wolf. Below the tail are the two hind paws. On the far right is a salmon the wolf has caught and is holding down with its front paws so it can be eaten by the wolf cub, which is represented by the very small head and two feet between the parent wolf's paws.
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OWL - Troop 718
Click here for 3-color version |
Owl is frightening creature who can fly silently through the woods as he hunts in the dark of night. Owl was often associated with death and was commonly a Shaman's helper. In some tribes, it was believed that Owl can cause a person's death merely by flying over his head. Other tribes say that a person soon to die will hear his name in Owl's eerie cry. Owl is shown swooping out of the green forest and toward the viewer with spread wings, outstretched talons, and the glowing eyes of a night predator.
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DOGFISH
Click here for 3-color version |
The dogfish, or shark, is a fiercesome creature shown with the characteristic sharp teeth, gill slits, large dorsal fin, a dagger-like spine (barb) sticking up, and a tailfin with a long top fluke. In the stomach of the dogfish is a salmon that was bitten in half when eaten, as shown by the head facing right and the rear half facing left.
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BEAR
Click here for 3-color version |
Bears were often referred to as "Elder Statesmen" because of their power and human qualities. Bears are included in many legends. According to one such legend, Bear was amused by the hopping of the Frog Chief and tried to step on him just for fun. The Frog Chief led his people from the island to escape the Bear. This explains why there were no frogs on the Queen Charlotte Islands until their recent introduction. The patch depicts this legend, as you see frogs trying to escape from under the paws of Bear. Bear is shown with the characteristic wide mouth, large teeth, small ears, and flaring nose. The black and white "ringed pole" rising from the center of Bear's head indicates that this drawing was done to honor a mighty Chief who took Bear for his primary totem, or icon.
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RAVEN - Troop 721
Click here for 3-color version |
Raven is the most important creature to Pacific Northwest Coast Indians. Raven created the world, gave people fire, and can transform himself into anything at any time. Raven is pictured here with the Sun in its beak. According to legend, the world was in darkness because a powerful Chief kept the Sun in a box. One day, the cunning Raven stole the Sun and flew with it in his beak to toss it into the sky. For proof that this story is true, one need only look at the sky and see the Sun there, right where the Raven released it.
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SALMON - Troop 719
Click here for 3-color version
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Salmon were, and to some extent still are, an important food source for the Northwest Coast peoples. According to legend, there are five tribes of Salmon People, who change into the form of a Salmon and swim up the rivers at different times of the summer, with the Coho Village always coming last. Of course, this matches the varying arrival times of the different specifies of salmon seen today in Northwest Coast rivers. The Salmon shown here displays the classic shape and coloring of a spawning Kokanee male salmon, with its hooked nose, red body, and olive-green fins and head area. Typical of the Northwest Coast Indian artwork, the Salmon theme is repeated within the drawing, as both the stomach area and the mouth contain standard, abstract salmon head representations, and the tail contains a human face, representing the human form taken by the animals before migration.
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The Chief Seattle Council also produced a set of Jamboree Special Issue Lodge Flaps. The totem of the T'Kope Kwis Kwis lodge is the Silver Marmot, an indiginous and fairly rare animal. You can see on the flap the characteristics of a marmot--the large front teeth, small ears, small round eyes, wide whiskers, and surprisingly long, sharp claws for digging.
The design uses only the older, more traditional red, black, and white, but combines the colors 4 different ways to make a complete set. The set is shown below. Click on one of the links to see a larger picture of each flap.
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Native artwork in the Pacific Northwest Coast region represents the legends and beliefs of the people who created it. Like many cultures, their legends and myths are ways of explaining natural phenomena. For example, the legend of the Bear and the Frog Chief explains why there were no frogs on Queen Charlotte Island until they were artificially introduced in recent years.
A key aspect of the Native culture was their belief in humans being intertwined with nature, rather than being above or separate from it. They felt that both humans and animals could, and often did, change forms. This helps explain why much of the artwork is somewhat abstract or stylized instead of trying to show exact representations.
Pacific Northwest Coast Native art is found from Alaska all the way down the Canadian coast to the Puget Sound region of Washington State, home of the Chief Seattle Council. Although there are stylistic variations that can be seen as one travels up and down the Coast, there is a high level of conformity to certain unwritten rules about the shapes and colors.
The most common form in Pacific Northest Coast artwork is the "ovoid" shape. The general outline of the patches shows the ovoid form. Ovoids also appear many times in many smaller variations within each design. Another key shape is the "split-U." This is the second most common shape, and appears in a wide variety of forms, often side-by-side with a second split-u, and usually found within an ovoid. Close inspection of the designs shows that a surprisingly large percentage of each drawing consists of variations of these two simple shapes.
The artwork is sometimes called "formline design," because it always includes strong black lines outlining the form of the design, and uses red as the secondary color. Most of the artwork was done on wood, with the designs carved into the wood, and then colors were added to accentuate the carving. Black areas were the highest part of the design, the red parts second-highest, and other colors were the lowest, or most deeply-cut part of the design.
Early artwork had shades of brown or gray (some cedar wood ages to an almost silvery gray color) as "background" colors. White was added to lighten this background. Thus, early artwork was limited almost exclusively to black, red, and white. This has led some people to believe that truly authentic native artwork should have only black, red, and white.
However, historians tell us that the only reason more colors were not added initially was because they did not have access to paint or paint-like substances that would allow strong, non-fading colors. Over time, as cheap, durable paints became available, native artists added blue and green in various shades, then yellow and other colors. But they retained black as the primary outline color, and red as the secondary color.
Let's get one thing clear from the start. Almost everybody trades at a Jamboree. I don't mean a lot of people, I mean almost everybody is trading something by the end of the Jamboree. It just happens. The important thing is to have fun and don't get too caught up in it.
There is only one National Policy about trading. Scouts should trade only with other Scouts, and adults should trade only with other adults. Scouts may NOT trade with adults.
Council patches are the most common item, but people also trade pins, neckerchiefs, summer camp patches, O.A. Flaps, hats, t-shirts, and even whole uniforms between Scouts from other countries. Many councils bring "friendship exchange items," like miniature bottles of Tabasco Sauce from Louisiana, vials of black sand from Hawaii, and so on. These are supposed to be given away, but often end up as trade items, too.
If you've never been to a Jamboree before, here are a few guidelines that will help you get a fair deal and have fun:
One final question that always arises is, How many patches should I bring to trade? A few Scouts bring no extras and never trade at all. Some Scouts bring literally hundreds and trade them all. One common scenario is a Scout brings 10 to 15 and often ends up trading them all with other Scouts encountered in the first few days of the tour. He's done before he even reaches the Jamboree! Another scenario is a Scout who brings 20 to 40 patches, and has traded them all by the third day.
Keep in mind that there will be over 30,000 other Scouts there, representing over 300 different councils, and most councils have multiple patches. For example, two councils from Utah sent a combined total of over thirty troops, and each troop had its own JSP. If you brought 30 patches, you would not even be able to trade for the entire set from just those two councils.
So the answer is to bring as many as you think you might want to trade and can afford to trade. I don't recall ever seeing anyone come home with a bunch of extras, but I've seen an awful lot of people scrambling to try to get more once they are there, when it's really too late. Once you leave Seattle, it's pretty difficult to get any more.
