(30 Oct 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Billings, Montana – 6 April 2024
1. Drum circle
2. Dancers step to the music at powwow
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Kenneth Deputee Sr, Crow elder:
“Feathers has been used to signify the strength of a warrior, what he can do, what he cannot do, what he can accomplish. And when he earns so many deeds in our tradition, then the feathers are….and some of the feathers are also sacred. Sacred in terms of using in the way of ceremonial, healing, powwows and other traditional events that occur within an Indian group. So yes, feathers are very important.”
4. Display of feathers hangs on hook
5. Person shows eagle talon as a part of regalia
6. Person ties headpiece on child
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kenneth Deputee Sr, Crow elder:
“To me, it’s my protection, I feel proud. I’m ready to go. I’m 72 years old, but when I put that regalia on, and I put my tail feathers on, I’m ready to roll, I’m ready to rock and roll. All that strength has come back to me. I’m ready to go out there and boogie woogie. Yes, the eagle stands a lot of things for us and I appreciate it. There’s a lot of eagle feathers in my house, with everything I do, I always put an eagle feather, string it on. So yes, it does hold a lot of good deeds to our family.”
8. Person stands holding accessory made of eagle feathers and eagle talon
9. Drum circle playing
10. Dancers walk to rhythm of music
STORYLINE:
America’s golden eagles face a rising threat from a black market for their feathers used in Native American powwows and other ceremonies, according to wildlife officials, researchers and tribal members.
“Feathers has been used to signify the strength of a warrior, what he can do, what he cannot do, what he can accomplish. And some of the feathers are also sacred,” said Crow elder Kenneth Deputee Sr.
The government’s response has been two-pronged: A crackdown on rings illegally trafficking eagle parts coupled with a longstanding program that distributes feathers and other eagle parts to tribal members.
But officials said illegal killings appear to be worsening, with young golden eagles in particular targeted because of high value placed on their white and black wing feathers. Golden eagles, which are federally protected but not considered endangered, already faced pressure — from human development, climate change and thousands of towering wind turbines that kill eagles in collisions.
One poaching investigation recovered 150 golden and bald eagles over the past decade, with at least 35 people charged and 29 sentenced for wildlife violations, according to court records and federal officials. Another undercover operation on a Montana Indian reservation recently landed its first conviction — a man accused with others of killing thousands of birds including golden eagles and selling them in the U.S. and abroad.
Increased poaching comes amid a years-long backlog at a government repository that provides feathers legally and for free to tribal members. But it’s unable to keep up as powwows have become more elaborate and competitive.
Eagle feathers were on full display at a recent powwow in Billings, where dozens of Native Americans in traditional regalia paraded into a community college field house to kick off dancing competitions. Their feet moved to the beat of a drum circle, its rhythmic sounds interrupted periodically by high-pitched singing.
Women walked around the arena carrying fans from eagle wings. Men sported eagle feather headdresses that bounced back and forth as they danced.
AP video by: Matthew Brown
Produced by: Brittany Peterson
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/8f2c96eb90c646b3bd794281a9e2bff0
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in November 4, 2024, 6:04 am.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
