Yesterday, I saw my very first eagle up close. He sat perched on a pole as I stared in awe and when I said “Shé:kon” aloud to him, he tilted his head to the side as if to acknowledge and respond. Eagle is significant for many nations. He is said to be the one who carries messages to Creator and is known to symbolize Truth in many Indigenous cultures. I have heard many teachings about Eagle but these are not mine to share. I just know that I am extremely grateful to have finally had the opportunity to spend time in his presence.
I had just started beading eagle feathers that morning as a reminder that we must first face the truth before we can have reconciliation. I wanted one feather to represent the truth from the past being revealed and the other to represent how these truths must always be remembered moving forward into the future. When I took this picture, I wasn’t sure if the feathers would remain and shortly after, I even removed all of the beads because I didn’t think they didn’t looked right. But something kept nagging me to include them so rather than continuing, I decided to walk away and spend some time outdoors with my family.
Although we believe that every day is Earth day, we wanted to take some extra time to honour her that day and express our gratitude for everything that she provides for us. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that this fortunate meeting between Eagle and I was more than just a coincidence. For me it was a reminder that the truth matters and sometimes the answers to our wonderings can be answered in unexpected ways.
