THE GREAT EAGLES AND THEIR FEATHERS AND TALONS

Apache Knife Fighting & Battle Tactic 6

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

The Great Eagles and their Feathers and Talons

The Apache warriors have always honored the great eagles.  The great eagles are known as the chief of the Sky Tribe.  In pictures and stories, the Apaches regard them as an emblem and symbol of strength, courage, and leadership. The great eagles are the guardians of the Heavens and were created by the One Creator as a helper and teacher to the Apaches.  The great eagles assisted the Apaches in many battles and wars against Dragon and his land creatures, after the Apaches came up from Underworld.  The Apaches learned many hunting and battle tactics from the great eagles.  They were inspired by the great eagles’ extraordinary vision; ability to soar to great heights; beautiful feathers, and powerful talons.  In past times, the great eagles were much larger than today and were said to have nests the size of a large wickiups.  Their wing spans were so large and powerful that they could lift up small dear.  When a great eagle would drop a feather near an Apache, it was a special blessing and a sign that this person would be a great Apache warrior (male or female).  If an Apache found a great eagle feather, it was prized, and could be used in trade; as gifts; or be kept to decorate their horse, head piece, wickiup, or weapon.   The most prized of feathers were large solid white feathers, which were rare.  Another of the prized feathers was white with black tip.  An Apache leader could honor a brave warrior by presenting him or her with a great eagle feather. This would be worn with pride and always worn in ceremonies.  When a great eagle feather was attached to a warrior’s horse, war shield, hair, clothes, or weapons, they would be successful in battle.

As the great eagles pluck their defected feathers, so they can fly in silence, so too, the Apache warriors cuts their hair off; or burns the ends of their long hair, after the death of a loved one.  This is an act of reverential silence.  As the great eagles plunge into icy waters to remove lice and other parasites, so too, the Apache warriors jump into icy waters to purify themselves after a journey, battle, or illness to remove bad spirits and bad memories.  As the great eagles sharpen their talons and beaks along the edges of rocks, so too, the Apache warriors sharpen their weapons on stones.  As the great eagles painfully plucked off all their old feathers and waits naked until the growth of their new coat, so too, the Apache warriors go into sweat lodges naked and pour out their impurities through sweating.  This is the Apaches method of renewing both body and spirit.   As the great eagles point their talons down on their prey, so too, the Apache warriors call a reverse or downward weapon grip: the Talon Grip. 

One day in 2007, I was working at the Jicarilla Apache Reservation several miles off the main road and far from town.  There was a large precipice with a few large trees at the highest spot.  My co-workers and I were working on a natural gas well site below this cliff.  When we looked closer at the largest tree above, we saw a large white eagle.  The entire body had white feathers from head to talon except a small row of brown feathers around its neck line.  It watched us the entire time we worked below.  I took a few photos, but they came out a bit fuzzy and I still have them in my photo album, as a reminder of that special day.  I spoke with other Apaches in town and they have never seen the white eagle before or since.  My spirit told me it was our One Creator telling me He watches over us.