Lodges Of Section W4C/W5A Conclave and Area 12-F
W4C Section Lodge History 1940-Present
Written By James Arriola
Updated December 8, 2007

Victorio 177 (View OAimages Listing):
Named after Victorio, an Apache war chief (ca. 1825-1880). Received its charter June 4, 1940. In Jan 1951 Disbanded. In 1952 Rechartered. In July 5, 1955 disbanded. April 12, 1961 rechartered. In Feb 1964 merged with Papago 494. Lodge totem was wild turkey. Lodge merged with 27 members.

Sinawava 312:
Received its charter July 13, 1945. Sinawava is Southern Paiute for the "Mythical Coyote". The lodge's first Ordeal ceremony took place in Zion National Park in Utah. In Jan 1950 the lodge disbanded. Lodge totem was the coyote.

Nebagamon 312 (View OAimages Listing):
Received its charter June 8, 1955 as Nebagamon. Nebagamon is derivative of the Chippewa word "Nee-bay-go-moh-win" meaning "place to hunt deer by the water with the fire". In 1957 Nebagamon was disbanded. In Sept 1962 lodge was rechartered again as Nebagamon with Wipala Wiki conducting the Ordeal ceremonies. Lodge totem "Fire on Water".

Gila 378 (View OAimages Listing):
Gila Lodge #378 is the newest Lodge in Section W4C, joining Area 4 in the summer of 2007. It was previously in Area 5. The Lodge was founded in early 1947 with the first Ordeal held at Camp Zach White in February of that year. The totem of the Gila Lodge is a Gila bug.

Nisjaw 338 (View OAimages Listing):
Lodge totem was Owl. Received its charter May 22, 1946. Disbanded Aug 4, 1946. Lodge eventually evolved into Salado 551.

Wipala Wiki 432 (View OAimages Listing):
Chartered 1950. Named after "Paul" Wipala Wiki. Names means cactus fruit gravy. Wipala Wiki was the heredity clan chief of the Antelope clan from his father's side and flute clan from his mother's side of the Hopi mesas. Wipala Wiki was the only lodge to having a living namesake. Wipala Wiki was a long time camp ranger at the Heard Scout Pueblo. Lodge's first totem was the Mountain Lion which happened to be a bad sign to the Hopi Indians and was changed to the Antelope and Antelope Kachina of Wipala Wiki's heredity Antelope clan.

Papago 494 (View OAimages Listing):
Chartered May 29, 1953. Papago means "Bean People" in the Pima language. First lodge totem was an "Arrowhead inscribed with a flying bird". Second lodge totem, which was used on the first flap, was a "Steer skull entwined with a rattlesnake". In 1961 lodge totem was changed to the Hohokam conception of the Gambel's quail.

Chee Dodge 503 (View OAimages Listing):
Chartered March 16, 1954. Named after Henry Chee Dodge (1857-1947). Last Navajo Tribal Chief and First Navajo Tribal Chairman. His name, Chee comes from his Navajo name, "Kiilchii' " which means "Red Boy". Henry Dodge was Chee's father's name. Lodge totem was Thunderbird and later incorporated the rainbow into the lodge's totem.

Pang 532 (View OAimages Listing):
Chartered Oct 7, 1957. First Ordeal ceremony performed by members of the Tahquitz Lodge 127. Merged Jan 1, 1993. Lodge totem is the Desert bighorn sheep. Pang was a member of the section from 1957 to 1973 when it was assigned to Section W4B.

Na-Ko-Na 551:
Chartered June 1961. Named after a Commanche Chief who was the father of Quannah Parker. Lodge totem was the buffalo.

Salado 551 (View OAimages Listing):
In 1965 lodge was renamed Salado meaning "Salty" in Spanish. Lodge was only OA lodge to be chartered in 1965, the 50th anniversary of the OA, henceforth 50th Anniv. Lodge on their first pocket flap. The lodge was initially the Graham Chapter of the Papago lodge.. Lodge merged May 15, 1977 into Wipala Wiki. Copper Council, Camp Cibola had a few Salado ruins on the property, which was chosen as the lodge's totem. Lodge totem was the Zuni Sun God and Salado pueblo ruins.