Great Grey Owl

Description

Today Susan and I were able to see a very special bird - a Great Grey Owl. We could tell you where we saw it but then we'd have to kill you. So far only about a dozen people know the location of this bird and we'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise people all over Southern Ontario would be breaking Covid travel restrictions willy nilly. A Great Grey Owl makes me think of that Canadian Master of Cultural Appropriation, Archie "Grey Owl" Belaney. Here's a poem from Armand Garnet Ruffo's collection "GreyOwl: The Mystery of Archie Belaney" ANNIE ESPANIEL, 1923 Armand Garnet Ruffo From: Grey Owl: the Mystery of Archie Belaney. He comes in all serious, sits down at the table beside me and says he's organizing an Indian War Dance for Queen Victoria Day. Me, I smile to myself when he tells me this and look at the long face he makes. So I say, Archie, What's an Indian War Dance? None of us Indian people have had one of those recently. For Archie that's OK. He's going to take care of everything. He'll show everybody what they're supposed to do. Of course he needs my help to make a special suit. You can't have an Indian War Dance without a costume. I agree, and he brings home some brown material and red ribbons from the lumber company store. He draws me a pattern and I make it up for him. When I'm finished he paints on little arrows, adds animal teeth and bones. He does a good job. It's when he makes the drum out of the cheese box that I have to shake my head.

Taken By

Ken MacDonald

Taken On

March 5, 2021

Tagged

birds tree plant bird animal