In 1922, Arthur E. Roberts, Scout Executive and Camp Director, founded the Tribe of Ku-Ni-Eh, a Brotherhood of Honor Campers who exemplified the Scout Oath and Law. After discovering that the Order of the Arrow wanted a fee to join, Mr. Roberts created the tribe at Camp Friedlander. The tribe of Ku-Ni-Eh was used by the Cincinnati Area Council until the early 1950’s. In fact, the Ku-Ni-Eh system was as popular as the Order of the Arrow, with over 250 councils using the same system and materials at the height of its popularity.
The We-Hin-Ay-Pay is a symbol brought into use by Arthur E. Roberts, and each color symbolizes a different quality: red for blood, the heart and life; white for purity; green for nature and blossoming manhood; and the rising sun on the blue sky since the sun, to the Native American, represents honor and fidelity. The We-Hin-Ay-Pay was taken from the base of a ritual basket of thee Maidu Indians of Northern California, as was our Lodge’s name, which means “order of manhood.”
In 1951, the tribe of Ku-Ni-Eh chose to join forces with the Order of the Arrow by becoming Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge No. 462. In 1957, Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge 462 merged with Michikiniqua Lodge No. 155 as the Cincinnati Area Council and Dan Beard Councils merged. Then in 1959, a merger occurred between Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge No. 462 and Ft. Hamilton Council’s Michi-Kini-Kwa Lodge No. 306. Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge was very prosperous during the 1960′s and 1970′s. By 1979, Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge had a membership of 1,000 members.
In 1985, Dan Beard and Mound builders Councils merged. This caused Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge No. 462 to merge with Nachenum Lodge No. 145 & today we are Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge No. 145. The first Lodge flap of Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge 145 was designed to represent this merger and the unity that resulted, containing the totems of all the merged lodges.
Our current flap only contains the We-Hin-Ay-Pay as a totem, thus reflecting the further developments of this unity. Today, Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge includes seven chapters and covers 12 counties in northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio.
