Eagle song.

c̓ixʷatin ~ "Eagle Song"

Nuučanuł is a small group of First Nations on the West Coast of Vancouver Island B.C. Canada, I am 39 years old and grew up very traditionally living off the land knowing my environment quite well. I learned how close Eagles are connected to Salmon in 1983.

My story begins I was 11 years of age and had spent much of my time in the community of yuułuʔiłʔatḥ "Ucluelet" a small coastal community in the country of Nuučanuł on this very hot summer day my grandfather, father and I were traveling to our home community of ʔanaqƛa "Pachena Bay" Home of the world famous Pachena Bay Campground and the West Coast Trail. En route we stopped at the Sarita River there is a bend in the river that our people call łicnit it runs right adjacent to the road a nice place to stop when traveling for hours on a dusty road with an 11 year old.

To my surprise and the excitement was very clear in my father he grew up in the near by Sarita Village and knew that logging practices in the 1950's affected our salmon runs, so much so the Eagles were no where to be found. Nature has a way, the homing beacon to these returning salmon was strong and after years of drought for our dietary staple finally the Salmon returned.

How did he know this, the eagles told him as we pulled up to łicnit we discover Eagles, Eagles every where It was a sight to see. They were on the shore, perched in the trees and circling in the sky above. My father was so excited and he told me that day the salmon have returned it was truly a good sign for a fisherman to see so many eagles river side. I t meant there was a run of salmon entering our river, we were all in awe seeing soo many eagles so up close and they were just going about their feasting not to be bothered us three.

Immediately my fathers inspiration begun he was in the process of creating his very first song, Again i was in awe I thought that our songs were passed on or given this was my first experience of witnessing first hand a song being born. He sang and he sang and he talked about all the eagles.

1. ḥayu qumƛ qu c̓ixʷatin "Many Eagles"
2. ḥayu qumƛ quus mataas c̓ixʷatin "Many eagles perched in the tree"
3. ḥayu qumƛ quus čitkʷaa c̓ixʷatin "Many eagles circling in the sky"

Is what this song sings about Our songs are inherent and I now proudly hold this song for our family it is a sign of wealth to share a song they are cherished and before this song was passed down to me my father shared it with some people and I honor his decision and I too share this with them.

• Ray Sim an Artist whom designed the "shawls" the ladies wear in this dance
• Circle of Eagles Lodge, A half way house that bridges convicted felons back into society a organization my Aunt Marjorie White was instrumental in founding.
• Ken Sam, Whom is a close friend of my father and he was shared this song when he discovered sobriety
• Sarah Dennis my step mom I love her so my dad honored her with this song on their wedding day she means so much to him she has a version uniquely her own

This is our song and I proudly sing this song along side my father he is my hero, my teacher and my role model in all good things i have in my life I Love you Dad

P.S there is another song that accompanies this as we often pair our song into a set of dances, that my friends is another song and another story, A story i will tell soon !! čuuč