Otyokwa Lodge #337 is a local lodge of the Order of the Arrow serving youth and adult Arrowmen within the Chippewa Valley Council, headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The key historical milestones, locations, and symbols of Otyokwa Lodge #337 include:

1. Origins and Founding (1945–1946)

• The Name: The word Otyokwa translates to "Brotherhood" in the Algonquin language.

• Establishment: The lodge's journey began in October 1945. It was officially formed with the assistance of a ritual team traveling from the Tom Kita Chara Lodge (Samoset Council based out of Wausau, Wisconsin).

• Charter: Otyokwa Lodge was officially chartered by the National Council in 1946.

2. Early Camps and Ritual Grounds

• Camp Nawakwa (1945–1948): From its inception until 1948, the lodge operated out of Camp Nawakwa, which served as the Chippewa Valley Council’s primary camp at the time, located near Cornell, Wisconsin.

• Camp Phillips (1948–Present): Following the construction and development of L.E. Phillips Scout Reservation (Camp Phillips) near Haugen, Wisconsin, Otyokwa Lodge permanently moved its ritual grounds and major events to the new camp property.

3. The Lodge Totem (1953)

The lodge's official totem was voted on and approved at the Otyokwa Lodge conclave in 1953. The totem is designed after a traditional Native American "gauntlet" made of rawhide lacing and glazed beads. The colors and layout of the beads hold symbolic meaning for the lodge:

• 50 colored beads represent the gauntlet knots and stand for "the greatest medicines".

• 4 dark blue beads represent the four seasons.

• 4 light blue beads represent the four basic foods.

• 2 yellow beads stand for the sun and the moon.

• 2 black beads stand for the wind and the rain.

4. Continuous Service and Legacy

Otyokwa Lodge remains active in northwest Wisconsin, regularly hosting seasonal events like its Fall Fellowship, providing thousands of volunteer service hours to maintain local council camps, and promoting Cub Scout camping programs. The lodge celebrated its modern historical milestones with special memorabilia, including a prominent Centennial Lodge Flap patch issued in 2015.

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