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CRY OF THE EAGLE
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Over the last few months, I have had the privilege of learning about the history and social context of Native people in Canada. One of the most interesting things that I was introduced to in the JFP450 course was the medicine bundle of Cat Criger. To an outsider, who is unfamiliar with the culture of native people and their rich sense of tradition and history, the medicine bundle might seem very vague and unimportant. However, it is a symbol of traditional Indian medicine and the pride of an Indian medicine man. It was the contents of the medicine bundle that got me really fascinated with traditional Indian medicine. I also want to pursue a career in a medical related field and, therefore, I decided to explore native medicine in more depth by reading the “Cry of the Eagle: Encounters with a Cree Healer”. It is difficult to write about traditional Indian medicine because the Indian tradition is an oral one and an active one, but not a written one. It is also difficult to talk about Indian medicine without relating them to a traditional and whole way of life. “Cry of the Eagle: Encounters with a Cree Healer” is the story of Russell Willier, a Cree medicine man from the Sucker Creek Reserve in Alberta. It is a story documented by three anthropologists who share their experience and interaction with Russell during the years 1984 through 1989. The book provides a rare glimpse into the beliefs and practices of Russell Willier (pg 4). James Waldram states that this is a remarkable book because it is one of “the few contemporary discussions of Indian medicine in print”. In order to understand the content of this book, one must know and understand the background of Indian medicine. Before the coming of the Europeans, the medicine man was a position of power and status in the Indian Society. When it became apparent that the medicine man would be the principal barrier to assimilating Indians into Anglo-Canadian society, steps were taken to weaken the influence of the medicine man. Missionaries had considerable power in their local communities and were often able to assume the role of doctor as well as preacher. As a result, traditional healers were criticised, jailed, abused, executed, and native medicine was driven underground. In time, the medicine bundles became museum pieces and to this day many Indians remain secretive about native medicine and religion. While reading this book, I had nothing but sympathy and admiration for Russell Willier. Russell’s strength and diligence is evident in his decision to share aspects of his work as a healer despite the several risks they impose on his life and native roots. He faces the possibility that traditional Indian medicine will be exposed once again to ridicule or might be exploited by drug companies for profit. He is also open to condemnation from the native community for disclosing knowledge that they consider to be secret and sacred. Regardless of the possible consequences, his desire is to revitalize Indian medicine and culture by demonstrating its relevance and validity to the non-Indian world through this book. He is concerned that Indian medicine is in danger of being lost as elders pass away and young native people lose interest in their heritage. As long as native medicine is kept underground and regarded as quackery or witch doctoring, it cannot fulfill its proper role in helping people stay on the Sweetgrass Trail. Indian traditional values are often ridiculed and become a sense of embarrassment to young people. He hopes to revive a sense of pride in young native people and stimulate their sense in native medicine and culture.
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Paper Information
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Title: CRY OF THE EAGLE
Words: 3005
Rating: None
Pages: 12
submitted by: vil4800
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