Hello, before we get back to the Shuswap, a feather has come to light, and words must be said.
The Boy and the Eagle Feather
By Dawn Kellie
An Eagle feather fell from the heavens; it floated silently down to the earth. A boy found the feather; he knew not where it came from. But he knew it must return one day to where it belonged. But he did not know how or when. He would find out why in time.
Throughout his life he lived, loved and was loved. As he grew older, the draw of the eagle feather led him to his own path. On the way some of his experiences were good and others were due to his own choices that perhaps, others would not have made. But we did not have the draw of the eagle feather in our lives.
The heavens and the universe and the people he touched along his way are all part of it. And in a short time he was ready to call on strength of the eagle feather and the beliefs he had gained, and the emergent power from our sudden loss.
They line the cliffs, great warriors young and old standing tall, brave and magnificent 10,000 strong. The great chief awaits the next, with his headdress massive and flowing to the earth with ancient heritage and old time tradition. His powerful stead, strong and ready to lead. 50 hands high mottled Palouse, eminence grise. He too had eagle feathers woven and braided leather tied throughout his mane, brushing on the earth with his great strides of time and place. They are safe together; the great chief looks after his own.
The lone eagle feather is not alone, but is the one, of the ten thousand and one. Riding tall and brave he joins their numbers to become his own part of their heritage and his and his fathers and his father’s fathers before. He is part of them and he is where his journey has led him. He is there and has earned his second eagle feather. One day his headdress shall be full of feathers and one day again, a small child will find his feather, so he too, can find his way to where his place is.
Only he can understand why and where his eternal place is. It matters not how he got there, but the love and guidance he received along the way there. He is not alone there. He will never be forgotten here. The Boy and the Eagle Feather.
Wheeling and soaring, now with talons locked together, their spiral free fall from the sky, exhilarating, only strengthens their beings and their bond. Freedom and another feather to be saved, treasured and returned, gradation from life to past. The great chief awaits, thunder clouds rise, the mottled Palouse rears, an eagle feather falls from the heavens, it floats silently down to the earth. A destiny shaped, a future determined, a path home, a feather to guide, a life to love. He is not alone there. He will never be forgotten here. The Boy and the Eagle Feather.
