Preserved eagle given to wildlife association to teach dangers of lead

A preserved eagle was blessed at Membertou First Nation Friday afternoon and given to the Port Morien Wildlife Association.

The wildlife association intends to use the eagle, which has undergone taxidermy, to inform people of the dangers of lead ammunition and tackle.

The association is continuing the efforts of Dr. Helene Van Doninck of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, says association president Jeff McNeil.

Van Doninck was a leader in the rehabilitation of eagles and other birds of prey that were poisoned by lead. She died in 2018.

McNeil says the wildlife association plans to lobby the provincial government to add labels to ammunition and tackle to indicate if they contain lead.

He said the warnings could be like those on cigarette packages, but not as graphic.

"But we want people to know," said McNeil. "People don't realize that some of the bullets that they buy, or ammunition or tackle, is lead."

McNeil said the association will take the eagle to school presentations both in Indigenous and non-Indigenous schools, as well as their information sessions for hunters and fishers.

It is believed this is the first time in Atlantic Canada that an eagle was bestowed upon a non-Indigenous organization.

Jeff Ward, general manager of Membertou Heritage Park, said the eagle is significant to the Mi'kmaq and the feathers alone are given only to people who have earned them.

"The eagle flies the highest, it takes your prayers to the creator," said Ward. "It flies so high they say it sits on the lap of the creator."

He said the blessing of the eagle was to signify the union between multiple groups working toward a common goal. 

"It's like a marriage," said Ward. "Whenever you get married you have a blessing in all ceremonies in all cultures. We want to keep it sacred and help out everyone in a good way."

The eagle was collected from Howie Centre.