Sacred Bird
Naatoyipi'kssi
by Pearl Long Time Squirrel

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Sacred Bird lives a fulfilled and happy life among the Blood Tribe as a mother of three, wife to a loving husband, and caretaker of her Elders. One spring day, as Sacred Bird works to complete her chores with her young daughter’s help, the two are suddenly and heartlessly abducted by men from a different tribe. Thus begins a period of distress for Sacred Bird as she struggles to live among the tribe who stole her and her daughter from their people. Forced to work tirelessly, Sacred Bird is subjected to abuse from the tribe, made worse by her lack of knowledge of their language. Her daughter, Sacred Feather Woman, is thankfully treated better and acts as Sacred Bird’s one tether between her happy old life and frightening new one. Sacred Feather Woman keeps her mother’s spirits up by being her inquisitive and kind self, becoming the only light that shines for Sacred Bird during these dark days. When Sacred Bird realizes a way to escape her captivity, she jumps at planning and preparing for the long trek back home. Mother and daughter begin their journey home to their family, gaining help and companions from a kind couple along the way. As the group works to leave the past behind, the journey home proves to be difficult, haunting, and tragic.

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Pearl Long Time Squirrel is herself a member of the Blood Reserve and a descendant of Sacred Bird. Her cousin’s encouragement inspired Pearl to write the story of Sacred Bird. The woman’s inspiring story of survival, determination, and overcoming has been passed down through the generations. By putting the story of Sacred Bird on paper, Pearl hopes to record and preserve the stories of heroes and heroines she heard throughout her life to ensure this story, among others, is not lost. Pearl Long Time Squirrel lives on the Blood Reserve in southern Alberta with her son, grandson, and Basset Hound Molly. Outside of writing, she enjoys sewing, beading, crocheting, writing poems, and gardening.

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Contributors

Author

Pearl Long Time Squirrel

Illustrator

Barbara Cotton

Photographer

Alexis Long Time Squirrel

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