Becoming an Eagle Legend
Each piece in my new vegan leather jewelry collection is inspired by part of an old Haida legend called The Man who became an Eagle. The story is about a young Haida boy and his uncle the Shaman. The young man was very foolish and never listened to his uncle’s teachings. For his foolishness, he was banished from the village and set adrift far out at sea. After many days, he washed ashore and is taken in by the father of two sisters. The young man marries the younger of the two sisters. Eventually, the young man asks to go back to his village. So, the father gives the young man a unique, spotted eagle skin. Anyone who wears the eagle skin will transform into an eagle and can fly. One day, the young man puts on his eagle-skin and flies back to his former village. When he spots his uncle, he seizes him and begins to fly away, but someone grabs onto the Shaman’s foot to prevent him from being taken. Then, that person is lifted into the air and another person grabs onto their foot and this carries on until the young man flies away with the whole village. Just as the village has cast him out far at sea, the young man dropped all the villagers, including his uncle far out at sea. When his uncle touches the sea he is transformed into an octopus. The villagers out at sea will be cared for by the octopus who is their grandfather. The young man says “you will be the grandfather of human beings”.
The first piece in the collection is Eagle’s Journey. This bracelet represents the young Haida boy’s long journey to becoming an eagle. In the center of the piece is an eagle head in profile. On the right side are the eagle’s wings and on the left side are the eagle’s tail.
The second piece is Eagle’s Feather. This bracelet represents the feathers on the eagle skin that transforms the young man into an eagle. The piece is a single eagle feather.
The third piece is Octopus. This bracelet represents the Shaman who is transformed into an octopus when he is dropped into the ocean. The shaman becomes the grandfather of all human beings. In the center is the head of the octopus in profile and on either side are his tentacles.
The fourth piece is Eagle. This bracelet represents the kind and generous father who welcomed the young boy into his family. In the center of the piece is an eagle head facing forward. On either side are his wings (at the top) and his tail (at the bottom).
The last piece are earrings and a pendant titled Daughter. The young man eventually marries the youngest daughter and as a gift is given the eagle skin that transforms him into an eagle. On the top left side is an eagle head in profile and on either side are the eagle wings.
The first piece in the collection is Eagle’s Journey. This bracelet represents the young Haida boy’s long journey to becoming an eagle. In the center of the piece is an eagle head in profile. On the right side are the eagle’s wings and on the left side are the eagle’s tail.
The second piece is Eagle’s Feather. This bracelet represents the feathers on the eagle skin that transforms the young man into an eagle. The piece is a single eagle feather.
The third piece is Octopus. This bracelet represents the Shaman who is transformed into an octopus when he is dropped into the ocean. The shaman becomes the grandfather of all human beings. In the center is the head of the octopus in profile and on either side are his tentacles.
The fourth piece is Eagle. This bracelet represents the kind and generous father who welcomed the young boy into his family. In the center of the piece is an eagle head facing forward. On either side are his wings (at the top) and his tail (at the bottom).
The last piece are earrings and a pendant titled Daughter. The young man eventually marries the youngest daughter and as a gift is given the eagle skin that transforms him into an eagle. On the top left side is an eagle head in profile and on either side are the eagle wings.