A Short History
of
Nebagamon Lodge 312

The National Lodge Order of the Arrow, W.W.W., approved by the National Council Boy Scouts of America grants this Charter to the Sinawava Lodge, Boulder Dam Area Council, Las Vegas, Nevada #312 for the year ending December 31, 1945.

In 1944, Boulder Dam Area Council received a charter from the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Comprising parts of northwest Arizona, southwest Utah, southern Nevada, and the eastern Mojave Desert of California, the new council was headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

One year later, on July 13, 1945, the above charter from the National Lodge of the Order of the Arrow was granted to Sinawava Lodge 312. The origin of the name Sinawava is from the Temple of Sinawava in Utah's Zion National Park, where the first ceremony of the new Lodge took place. Sinawava means "Coyote", in Southern Paiute, and the coyote was chosen as the Totem of the new Lodge.

In January 1950, Sinawava 312 was disbanded by the National Office because it allowed its National dues to lapse with the National Council. The Lodge was placed on the inactive list by National Secretary, Norman C. Wood. There are no known insignia from Sinawava Lodge.

On June 8, 1955, the Lodge was rechartered with the new name, Nebagamon, and the same number, 312. The new Totem was "Fire on the Water". In 1957, the Lodge was again disbanded. On September 8, 1962, the Lodge was again rechartered as Nebagamon 312.

The name Nebagamon is an Americanized version of the Chippewa word "nebagomain", which means "Hunting Deer on the Water with Fire". This refers to the Chippewa method of hunting deer by mesmerizing them with a floating raft with a fire on it. The name was suggested by George Vaughn, whose hometown was Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin.

Although not certain, local Lodge legend has it that Fire on the Water was chosen as the Totem because the first above-ground nuclear tests were being conducted at this time (mid-50s), and people would go to Lake Mead to watch them. The explosion would reflect off the water, looking like there was a "fire on the water".