Miigwech

In the tradition of the Ojibwe (also known as Chippewa or Anishinaabe) people of the Great Lakes region, the word miigwech (sometimes spelled miigwetch or migwech) is a heartfelt expression of gratitude. It simply means “thank you.” Spoken with sincerity, it acknowledges the gifts of the day, the fellowship shared, and the land that has sustained the gathering. Among many Anishinaabe communities it is a common, everyday word of thanks—offered at the end of a meal, a visit, or a journey—carrying respect for one another and for the natural world.

Pronunciation guide
miigwech ≈ mee-gwetch
(The first syllable rhymes with “me,” the second with “fetch,” with a soft “gw” sound in the middle.)

Our troop has woven this word into our own closing ceremony as a way of honoring that spirit of gratitude. At the end of every meeting or camping trip we form a circle. The chaplain leads us in the twelve points of the Scout Law, then offers the familiar benediction:

“May the Great Scoutmaster of all Scouts be with us till we meet again.”

The chaplain then speaks the word miigwech. In reply, the entire troop answers with a single, unified Hoooo!—our shared expression of thanks for the time we have spent together, the lessons learned, and the fellowship that binds us.

In this simple exchange we remember both the Native American origin of the word and the Scouting values we strive to live by: gratitude, respect, and the promise to meet again.

Evergreen Sprig

According to tradition, Native American people who were preparing to leave for new camping grounds would place an evergreen sprig on the campfire. This simple act signified to any future visitors that the area had provided good hunting, gathering, and fellowship. The evergreen sprig itself represents everlasting life.

At the end of every camping trip, one of the younger Scouts is invited to find a fresh evergreen sprig. If the campout was good—if the trails were fair, the meals shared, the laughter real, and the fellowship strong—the sprig is placed in the campfire.