Indian Lore Merit Badge Pamphlet Indian Lore Merit Badge

Indian Lore


Requirements were REVISED effective January 1, 2009.
(New pamphlet issued August 1, 2008).

New text is in bold GREEN underlined Serif text like this sentence.
Deleted portions are struck through RED italic text like this sentence.

To see the requirements, without the changes highlighted, Click here.

For the previous requirements, Click here.


Requirement 4e used to require "an Indian story of at least 300 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words." We believe, but have not confirmed, that the change from 300 words to 25 words shown below was a typographical error in the pamphlet, but until we get confirmation from BSA, we've shown the wording in the pamphlet.


  1. Give the history of one American Indian tribe, group or nation that lives or has lived near you. Visit it, if possible. Tell about traditional dwellings, kind way of life, tribal government, religious beliefs, family and clan relationships, language, dress clothing styles, arts and crafts, food preparation, means of getting around, how they played games, if they were warlike or peaceful customs in warfare, where descendants members of the group now live, and how they live.
  2. Do TWO of the following. Use information about Focus on a specific group or tribe to complete the requirements.
    1. Make an item of clothing worn by members of the tribe.
    2. Make and decorate three items approved by your counselor used by the tribe, as approved by your counselor.
    3. Make an authentic model of a dwelling used by any an Indian tribe, group, or nation.
    4. Visit a museum to see Indian artifacts. Talk about Discuss them with your counselor. Identify at least 10 artifacts by tribe or nation, their shape, size, and use.
  3. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Learn three games played by a group or tribe. Teach and lead one game with a Scout group.
    2. Learn and show how a tribe traditionally cooked or prepared food. Make three food items.
    3. Give a demonstration showing how a specific Indian group traditionally hunted, fished, or trapped.
  4. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Write or briefly describe how life would have been different for the European settlers if there had been no Indians native Americans to meet them when they came to this continent.
    2. Sing two songs in an Indian language. Explain their meaning meanings.
    3. Learn in an Indian language at least 25 common terms and their meaning.
    4. Show 25 signs in Indian sign language. Include those that will help you ask for water, for food, and where the path or road leads.
    5. Learn in English (or the language you commonly speak at home or in the troop) an Indian story of at least 300 25 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words. Tell the story or stories at a Scout meeting or campfire.
    6. Write or tell about eight things adopted by others from the Indian American Indians.
    7. Learn 25 Indian place names. Tell their origins and meanings.
    8. Name five well-known American Indian leaders, either from the past or people who are alive of today. Give their tribes or nations. Describe what they did or do now that makes them notable.
    9. Learn about the Iroquois Confederacy, including how and why it was formed. Tell about its governing system, and its importance to the framers of our Constitution. Describe some of the similarities and differences between the governments of the United States and of the Six Nations (the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy).

BSA Advancement ID#: 64
Requirements last updated in: 2008
Pamphlet Publication Number: 33360A or 35910
Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 35910
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2008

Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: Format
Word Format PDF Format

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.


Page updated on: November 18, 2021



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