The YMCA Indian Program grew out of a hunting trip taken by Harold S. Keltner, St.Louis YMCA Director. On this hunting trip, Keltner's guide, Joe Friday, an Ojibway Indian, remarked that is the Indian father who raises his son, while the white man relinquishes this to the mother. Inspired by this campfire discussion, Keltner initiated the Indian Guide (boys) Program in 1926. Over the years other forms of this Program have been adopted, such as the Indian Princesses (girls) Program.

At the Southeast YMCA, Bedford Ohio, The Indian Guides and Princesses Programs have existed in various forms since the facility was opened in the 1950's.