BIRDS

BIRDS

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The birds provide meat for food and feathers for decorating clothing. The birds share their beautiful colors and lovely songs so that the people will not feel lonely. The birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The leader of the birds is the eagle. The eagle and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee.

Eagles, 1988 soapstone by Benjamin Thomas, Mohawk
THE EAGLE

The eagle is the leader of all the birds. He is strong and has great endurance. He has very keen eyesight and so can fly high into the sky and still see much of what happens on Mother Earth. The eagle was placed on top of the Great Tree of Peace by the Peacemaker to act as guardian. The eagle warns the Haudenosaunee of any approaching dangers or threats to their peace. (See the story of the Peacemaker and the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy.) The eagle and all of the birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The eagle and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee. Eagle feathers can be used in ceremonies, for decoration or for making a Gustoweh (headdress). (Non-Native people may not legally possess eagle feathers.)

THE TURKEY

The turkey is important to the Haudenosaunee because it provides meat for food. The feathers can be used for decoration or for making a Gustoweh (headdress).

The turkey and all of the birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The turkey and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee.

THE GOOSE

The goose is important to the Haudenosaunee because it provides meat for food and the feathers can be used for decoration or for making a Gustoweh (headdress). In some versions of the Creation Story, geese lower Skywoman to Turtle Island.

The goose and all of the birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The goose and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee.

The birds provide meat for food and feathers for decorating clothing. The birds share their beautiful colors and lovely songs so that the people will not feel lonely. The birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The leader of the birds is the eagle. The eagle and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee.
*Eagles, 1988 soapstone by Benjamin Thomas, Mohawk*	THE EAGLE The eagle is the leader of all the birds. He is strong and has great endurance. He has very keen eyesight and so can fly high into the sky and still see much of what happens on Mother Earth. The eagle was placed on top of the Great Tree of Peace by the Peacemaker to act as guardian. The eagle warns the Haudenosaunee of any approaching dangers or threats to their peace. (See the story of the Peacemaker and the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy.) The eagle and all of the birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The eagle and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee. Eagle feathers can be used in ceremonies, for decoration or for making a Gustoweh (headdress). (Non-Native people may not legally possess eagle feathers.)
THE TURKEY The turkey is important to the Haudenosaunee because it provides meat for food. The feathers can be used for decoration or for making a Gustoweh (headdress). The turkey and all of the birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The turkey and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee.
	THE GOOSE The goose is important to the Haudenosaunee because it provides meat for food and the feathers can be used for decoration or for making a Gustoweh (headdress). In some versions of the Creation Story, geese lower Skywoman to Turtle Island. The goose and all of the birds are part of the web of life and so are important in making sure that life as we know it can continue. The goose and all of the birds are greeted and thanked each day by the Haudenosaunee.