Eagle War Feathers
A long, long
time ago the Cheyenne warriors had not learned yet how to use eagle for
their war ornaments. One of their men climbed a high mountain; there he
lay for five days, crying, without food. Some powerful being, he hoped, would see him and come to him, to teach him something great for his people.
He was glad when he
heard a voice say, "Try to be brave, no matter what comes, even if it
might kill you. If you remember these words, you will bring great news
to your people, and help them." After a time he heard voices, and seven
eagles came down, as if to fly away with him. But he was brave, as he
had been told, though he continued to cry and keep his eyes closed. Now
the great eagles surrounded him. One said "Look at me. I am powerful,
and I have wonderfully strong feathers. I am greater than all other
animals and birds in the world."
This powerful eagle
showed the man his wings and his tail, and he spread all his feathers
as wide as possible. He shows him how to make war headdresses and
ornaments out of eagle feathers. >
"Your people must use only eagle feathers, and it would be a great help to them in war and bring them victories," eagle said. >
Since no loose
feathers were about, the seven eagles shook themselves, and plenty of
feathers fell to the ground. The Cheyenne picked them up and gratefully
took them home to his tribe. On that day, eagle feathers were seen for
the first time by the Cheyenne and they knew where they came from. >
The man showed his
people how to make war ornaments from the eagle feathers, as he had
been told. From that day onward, the man became a great warrior in his
tribe, and their leader in war parties.
He became so
successful his people named him Chief Eagle Feather and he wore his
Eagle Feather Warbonnet, as he led the Cheyennes with dignity and pride.
THE EAGLE The
Eagle represents power and strength and is the ruler of the Sky and the
messenger to the Heavens! To Native Americans, the eagle embodied not
only ferocity but also purity, for it flew high in the atmosphere,
where the air was clearest - and where, in the belief of many Indians,
the Great Spirit resided. Those who wished to ask something of the
Great Spirit sometimes sent their message by way of the eagle spirit.
Some believe birds to be symbols of the soul, as well as intermediaries
to the gods. Seeking their cooperation, Native
Americans have plied bird spirits with offerings and performed dances
to honor and beseech them. Pleas are sent skyward in the smoke of
burning tobacco. Feathers are often considered the most potent part of
the bird, but beaks, bones, talons and even entire bodies of some birds
also have been used to recreate bird spirits. Many such objects have
been passed down as cherished symbols of the power bestowed by those
creatures that soar in the lofty realms where many of the gods dwell.
The Life of An Eagle The Life of an Eagle... The eagle has the longest life-span of its' species
HOW THE FEMALE
EAGLE CHOOSES HER MATE If
a white buffalo, the Holiest of animals appears, it is a sign that
prayers have been heard and a period of wealth is about to begin.
Unknown
Dec 8, 2007
It can live up to 70 years
But to reach this age, the
eagle must make a hard decision
In its' 40's
Its' long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which
serves as food
Its' long and sharp beak becomes bent
Its' old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers,
become stuck to its' chest and make it difficult to fly
Then, the eagle is
left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which
lasts 150 days.
The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top
and sit on its' nest
There the eagle knocks its' beak against a rock until it
plucks it out
After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to
grow back and then it will pluck out its' talons
When its' new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking
its' old-aged feathers
And after five months, the eagle takes its' famous flight of
rebirth and lives for ...
30 more years
(As told by the Wintu Tribal Elders of
When it comes time for the female Eagle to choose her mate, she prepares
herself for many suitors. And many come before her. She looks them over quite
well and then picks one to fly with for awhile. If she likes the way he flies
she finds a small stick, picks it up and flies high with it. At some point she
will drop the stick to see if the male can catch it. If he does, then she
finds a larger stick and flies with it much higher this time. Each time the
male catches the sticks, she continues to pick up larger and larger sticks.
When she finds the largest, heaviest stick that she herself can carry, the
stick is at this point almost the size of a small log! But she can still fly
very high with this large stick.
At any time in this process, if the male fails to catch the stick, she flies
away from him as her signal that the test is now over. She begins her search
all over again. And when she again finds a male she is interested in, she starts
testing him in the exact same way. And she will continue this
"testing" until she finds the male Eagle who can catch all the
sticks. And when she does, she chooses him, and will mate with him for life.
One of the reasons for this test is that at some point they will build a nest
together high up and will then have their Eaglettes. When the babies begin to
learn to fly, they sometimes fall instead. It is then that the male must
catch his young. And he does! The female Eagle and their Eaglettes have depended
on him to be strong for them. Just as we Native women and children need to
depend upon our Native men. So what I would like to offer to you my friends is
this. Sisters, how well do you "test" your suitors before you allow
them into your life? And my Brothers, how well have you caught the
"sticks" for your women and your children?
Whatever our past has been like, if we need to change, let's do so now
together. Our children are counting on us to make these good choices for them
and for their children.
Aho!... All My
Relations."
The buffalo stands for affluence.
In legends, it was the "White Buffalo Calf Woman"
who brought the people the Holy medicine pipe. It's tobacco united all
forces of nature and it's smoke rose as a visible prayer. The particles
suspended in the smoke made it possible for the Spiritual beings to
grant wishes. The buffalo teaches that everything exists in abundance
if it is respected and accepted with gratitude.
It is important to praise all gifts that are received and also to pray
for the divine wealth being granted to others. The buffalo also points
out that goals can only be reached with the power of the Great Spirit.