Sir Isaac Newton’s notion, “if we can see farther today, it is because we stand on the shoulders of giants who came before us,” continues to ring true in present times.  Through their vision Keltner and Friday gave us a treasured gift that has become a tradition and that has shaped the 20th-century concept of family for millions of members since 1926.

Today, as never before, the Information Age provides for immediate access to search for ties to our villages of origin.  Societal shifts of the past, influenced by religious teachings, new economies, and social values, have disconnected most in the New World from their tribes and villages of origin.  Yet the child is all of us remains fascinated with the magic, the allure, and the enhancement of belonging to a closely-knit, dependent group of individuals such as a tribe.

We have been enchanted and guided by the way of life embraced by legends, popular myths, and true stories of North American First Nations.  These stories have taught us the fundamental values of belonging to family, responsibilities to the tribe, strong leadership roles played by both men and woman, and respect for our life.  The voice of Joe Friday encourages us to respect the cultures of Native Americans by investing our time and resources to rediscover and respect our own roots in order to expand involvement in YMCA parent-child programs.

For years, all members of the Y-Indian Guide program belonged to a tribe.  Today, we substitute the concept of Circle to describe the grouping of parents and children.  The word “circle” conjures up much of the same connection, dedication, devotion, and interdependence as does the word “tribe.” The Circle is our basic group unit and provides the structure for our sense of community, for supporting the members of the Circle, and for all group activities.

Belonging to a Circle is a transforming experience that speaks to the human need for community and extends the sacred circle of our family.  Belonging to a Circle honors all the resources entrusted to us, including our families origin, the land where we live today, and our responsibility to those who will follow us in the future.

All people can trace their ancestry to ethnic roots that extend from the North American continents of the inhabited world.  As we join a Circle community today, we are offered the opportunity to explore and discover the ways of our ancestors as well.  By sharing our heritage and our roots between parent and child, and within our YMCA Circle, we gain appreciation for the traditions and beliefs of all people.

Leadership of the Circle is shared among parents in many roles, including caregiver, community leader, boundary-setter, spiritual leader, teacher, and companion and friend. Children get to experience these roles as well and grow in the process.

Circles agree on the ground rules for behavior and expectations for shared responsibilities. Circles create a “ritual space” that captures the imagination of the child as Circle members gather.  Circles become a place where parents and children have permission to become what we want to be always our father and mother, and sons and daughters…Friends Forever.

Each Circle creates a unique identity and name and develops a sense of community recognizing the depth, strengths, weaknesses, and unique capacities of each member. Circle members share responsibility to achieve goals for the common good and engage their diversity of individual talents and skills to do so.  Care and affection take place spontaneously.  Reflection on individual and community experiences gives members knowledge about truth, relationships, and future direction; activities incorporate celebration, parties, and social events.

The Circle is a place for telling the stories of life.  Stories come from all ancient peoples of the world, our own folklore, and our own experience.  Discovering ourselves through imaginative storytelling is fascinating for children; it is a thrill for them when it is their own parent’s turn to tell such a story to the Circle.

The journey of the Circle community continues as children see, hear, and share truths that are ever present in our lives in this world.  Children listen.  They move from imagination to application.