I have been asked by many people to which nation I belong. This is a rather complex question.

The awakening of my Native American identity

At my family home in Saskatchewan, a province in central Canada where I was born, we were educated as French-Canadians. Not a word was ever spoken about the fact we had Native American ancestry. Nevertheless, I have always felt close to them, and had several special experiences connected to that feeling. One day, my father brought me to a boarding-school for Native American children. I immediately felt a very strong connection with another boy (I was then probably 6 or 7 years old). As he couldn't talk English, we left the school without uttering a single word, to go and see a stream he wanted to show me. The place was splendid. Then, a sudden storm burst out, with those impressive lightning bolts typical of the Canadian prairies. We ran at full speed to get back to the school, but, after a few strides, we were already soaked, and the thunder was so violent above our heads that it sent us hurtling to the ground. When we reached the school, seeing how the priests and brethrens running the institution were staring at us, I realized my friend was in trouble. But he didn’t mind, we were bent over with laughter and we had just had great fun.

 

I could also feel deep inside me how unfair the situation of the Native American people was. Isn’t it sheer non-sense that the first people of our country should experience extreme poverty and long-lasting racism? I even made a complete video reporting, in my high school years, on this issue, to make people aware of our readiness to help others in Africa, while we had people living in utter misery just next door that nobody would speak about.

 

In my late teens, the first week after leaving my family home to start university in Quebec, I had a dream where my Ancestors started talking to me. In reality, it was a great-grand-father from a remote past who revealed to me, through that dream, my Native American ancestry.

When I woke up, everything about my life up to that day, and what my future life was meant to be, became perfectly clear. I had, in a flash, an understanding of the world’s confusion and of the critical condition of our ecology.

I asked my parents if we had any Indian blood, as this had never been mentioned. They gave me confirmation of this. I abandoned my studies and started for a long journey. I visited Indians throughout Canada, then on the Western Coast of the States. I was recognized and accepted everywhere by the First Nations I met and lived with.

I never felt I needed to prove my ancestry. My inner feeling was so strong that I felt no need for external proof. My conviction remained unshakable, and has always been confirmed by my experiences, as well as the people I met or the knowledge that would arise within me when needed.

My family ancestry

When a relative spontaneously offered to draw up our family tree, we discovered, as I had sensed, that we had Native American blood. In fact, we discovered not only one, but four Native American ancestries.

We were quite astonished when discovering that, on my father’s side, we had Abenaquis ancestors, namely Marie-Mathilde Pidicwanmiskwe, daughter of an Abenaqui chief, who married Jean-Vincent d’Abbadie, born in 1652.
We had never had the faintest suspicion of any Native blood in my father’s family.
On the other hand, the genetic influence on physical features undoubtedly indicated the presence of Native American blood on my mother’s side.

Furthermore, the story itself was no less than picturesque. It even appeared symbolic, since we happened to be the remote descendants of an Abenaqui Chief, Pidicwanmiskwe, who had chosen to marry his daughter - Marie-Mathilde Pidicwanmiskwe - to a White man - Jean-Vincent d’Abbadie -, and to make this European the Chief of his tribe! He knew this man would be more able to help them face the turpitudes of a colonization which seemed to be inexorable.

 

Here is what Bona Arsenault writes in A History and Genealogy of the Acadians:

 

« Jean Vincent D' Abbadie, a midshipman in the regiment from Carignan, arrived in Canada in 1665. He made friends with the Abenaquis, learning their language and adopting their customs, and married Marie-Mathilde Pidicwanmiskwe, daughter of their High Chief. Succeeding his father-in-law as the head of the tribe, he assisted d’Iberville with 240 Abenaquis at the siege of Pemaquid in 1696.

When he died in 1707, his son, Bernard-Anselme, succeeded him as Chief of the Abenaquis. The same year, Bernard-Anselme de St-Castin contributed, at Subercase governor’s request, to the defense of Port-Royal against the Anglo-Americans.

After the surrender of Port-Royal in 1710, Vaudreuil granted Saint-Castin a commission as lieutenant in Pentagoët (Penobscot, Maine). Thus, he was at the same time an Abenaqui Chief as well as a French army officer. As the Abenaqui tribe had been considerably weakened by the ceaseless English attacks, St-Castin launched negotiations with the Anglo-Americans, which led to the signing of a peace treaty in 1725. »

Our family also comes from the following ascendancies:
- Joseph Riberville, a Panis Indian who had lived in Lachine as a soldier engaged by Guillaume de Lorimier,
- Jeanne Capciouekoue, from an unknown Native American nation, who married Jean Gauthier in Kaskaskia, Illinois, around 1702.

This genealogy has been well documented.

 

As we already said above, the genetic influence on physical features indicated the presence of quite recent Native American blood in our mother’s direct female ascendancy. Nevertheless, our family has been confronted here with an unsolved mystery. Indeed, the name “Cloud”, a rather common Native American name, is related to a woman-ancestor who suddenly disappeared in the States in the middle of the 20th century. She reappeared a few years later, despite her announced death, under a different name. She also looked much younger than she should at her age, bearing the new name of “Mc Clure”, and seemed to be of European ascendancy. My uncle met her, but this mystery has not yet been solved. Who was that woman, and where did the Indian blood so clearly betrayed by my grandmother's features, as well as by her children's, come from?

 

Some people know that research about the past can be made through other means than books, through what some spiritual traditions name the Akaschic Archives, and what the Cherokees call the Temple of Understanding. Those places, which are non-physical, contain, inscribed on subtle planes, the Book of Life of every being. Here is some information I obtained thanks to this research, which were later confirmed by Dhyani Ywahoo, Chief and Spiritual Elder of the Green Mountain Band of Eastern Cherokee: the great- grandfather who appeared in my and Dhyani’s dreams had a daughter named Cloud. They came from an ancient Algonquin nation which had nearly been completely decimated by the epidemics and wars resulting from European colonization. From this tribe numbering several hundred families, only two remained, which decided to assimilate into the White culture to survive.

 

There was a time when the Canadian government would propose to First Nations to forgo their status as Indians. Thus, my ancestors identified with the White culture with such a conviction (as their survival depended on it) that they ended by completely forgetting their origins. The racism and shame Native Americans had to undergo were powerful conditioning tools. The living condition of many Native people, especially at that time and in some places still today, is as bad as in many starving third world countries.

 

But when I was ready, in September 1973, my Ancestors came to awaken me. I felt a calling to my roots, a calling to embody the old traditions and I saw the mission I was to accomplish. 

 

 

The acknowledgement by my First Nation brothers

After that dream, which transformed my life, I traveled a lot to meet Native Americans from numerous nations. Thus, in 1981, I met a teacher from the AniYunWiwa ( Cherokee) Nation - Dhyani Ywahoo- during a conference she was giving in Montreal.

 

At the same period, and this, for several months, Mrs. Ywahoo had been receiving visits, in her dreams, of an old Indian man urging her to summon his grandson back to the teachings. He would visit her regularly in the dreamtime. The evening we met in Montreal, well awake, she saw my ancestor standing next to me and holding me by one ear.

He was insistently asking her to recognize the grandson he had been telling her about. So, she asked my grandfather what on earth she could do to lead me back to the path. He asked her to offer me something. She chose a crystal she wore on her dress.

During a major part of that conference, she kept holding this crystal, thus filling it with her energy. In the room, I felt completely electrified. I had been spending a long time traveling among the Indian Nations, looking for something that did not seem to exist any more, namely the traditional spiritual teachings. Only some privileged families detained these teachings, and they were rather discreet. Because of the inheritance of the Christian doctrines imposed by the various western churches, especially at the time of the residential schools, it was really badly perceived, in many nations, to practice traditional Native American teachings. The reason is that those teachings were labeled as the devil’s work, and paganism. Thus, during my travels, I had not managed to find what I was looking for: the wisdom and teachings which had enabled the First Nations to live in harmony with Nature for thousands of years. But here, at last, I was hearing what I had been hoping to find for such a long time.

 

At the end of her conference, Dhyani Ywahoo had the crystal handed over to me. The energy I received when I held it was so strong that I was unable to utter a single word. The person who was acting on behalf of the teacher now had doubts whether she had given the stone to the right person. Three times, she asked me if the crystal was indeed intended for me. As I still could not reply, I simply put it in my mouth. She thus understood I was undoubtedly the one who was to receive it!

 

The next evening, I had a vision which confirmed what I had sensed during this conference. Visions are something very personal and cannot be shared publicly; in fact, only three Elders have heard about it. Following this vision, I had to give a name to the community gathering around me to put the traditional teachings to practice. I named this community “Blue Eagle Community”, in relation with the vision I had received. Afterwards, I was surprised to hear the members of my adoptive family (the members of Dhyani Ywahoo’s family) call my by that name. One day, I had to dissolve the Blue Eagle Community because people had an insufficient sense of autonomy, and I felt too much weigh on my shoulders. In order to preserve the energy coming from the vision and the name carrying that energy, a naming ceremony was performed and I then received the name of Blue Eagle.

 

In the mythology of the First Nations, the blue eagle is one of the four faces of the thunder bird, and it embodies the energy of truth as well as the harmonious expression of this truth. It is this presence which often gives birth to the inspired music which spontaneously arises in my concerts or with friends.

 

After this vision, I followed the path of the traditional teachings of the First Nations during 25 years. I integrated the practice of the Bear Clan of the AniYunWiwa Nation with Dhyani Ywahoo. I also studied with Sun Bear, from the Chippewa Nation, with OhShinnàh Fastwolf from the Apache Nation and with Tlakaelel, from the Aztec Nation. I received teachings from Manitonquat and Slow Turtle, both from the Wampanoag Nation, William Commanda, from the Algonquin Nation, N’tsukw, from the Innu Nation, and from many others, too numerous to mention, among whom several are dead today.

 

Everywhere, I received efficient and powerful teachings. Thanks to this training, I could eventually find my place in the universe. After ten years of spiritual practice, I learnt how to see my Ancestor and communicate directly with him otherwise than through intuition or dreams.

 

After seven years studying with the Elders, I was authorized by Dhyani Ywahoo to start teaching myself. Then, I spent twenty years teaching the spiritual and therapeutic principles of the Native nations.

Some years after the beginning of this period of my life, namely in 1991, the Secretary General of the Government of the Indian Nation of North America asked me if I would be happy to acquire my status as an Indian. I accepted with eagerness and sent him the required photos. Two days later, he offered me graciously my cards and my Native American passport, underlining the gratitude of the Indian Government for my work.

A few years later, thanks to the techniques received from the Ywahoo lineage, we discovered that I belonged to the Bear Clan. Thus, Dhyani Ywahoo adopted me into her family and in the Bear Clan of the Green Mountain AniYunWiwa. Thus, I became Cherokee by adoption. 

 

 

The price to be paid

As I had Native American features and because I openly showed my membership, I also underwent the same racism the First Nations experience on uncountable occasions, be it physical, verbal or administrative violence. I also shared the problems which are part of their life.

 

On the other hand, I underwent racism against me from the Indians as well, since I dared to teach their traditions when I did not have Indian status from the Canadian government, this very same colonizing government which, for so many years, had set up numerous genocide policies towards the Native peoples.

 

So, when it comes to answering this question: am I an Indian? A rather delicate question indeed ...

When an immigrant is accepted by the Canadian government as a citizen, he then becomes a Canadian. I received my status from one of the only Native American organizations which are not subsidized nor controlled by the Canadian government. The Indian Government of North America, which is a pan-tribal organization realizes the dreams of many a great chief, among whom Tecumseh. This dream is that of all First Nations uniting in a common front to preserve their homeland. The passport emitted by The IGNA is recognized by several countries. I met and visited many times with the founder of this organization.

 

A two-feather from the Rainbow family

I am also a Native American by adoption, even though there are no papers and our communications have dwindled in the past years. They will probably return as cycles of time unfold.

We have four Native American ancestries in my family, but the most recent one remains a mystery.

All this is of no importance. Since the beginning of my journey on the Red Road, I have never thought that physical proof was of any importance. In reality, I consider myself a member of the Rainbow Nation, a "two-feathers" (with genes from two races, the White one and the Red one; one who would have African, Asian and European parents would be a three-feathers). This planetary movement considers that we are a single human race looking for peace, reconciliation and harmony with Nature and our deepest essence. The coming of the great Rainbow Family was announced more than 1000 years ago by the First Nations prophecies.

 

In 2007, in mutual agreement with my adoptive family, I decided to stop teaching and practicing any spiritual ministry from the Ywahoo tradition. I am still a member of the community, but, for numerous personal and professional reasons, we do not want to go on working together. After all, I had not succeeded, in spite of considerable efforts, to find in one of the purest Native American traditions, the practical method which would enable us to transform our beautiful planet, so that it would return to the paradise it should naturally be when Man lives in harmony with nature.

A few months after I had stopped working for the Ywahoo Lineage, I discovered a marvelous teacher who offered teachings more adapted to our time. His teachings, which I practiced during one year, are a synthesis of all the traditions on Earth. He proposes a beautiful synthesis centered essentially on the relaxation of the being as a whole. As far as personal development goes, his teachings are of the highest level, but still I felt a need for a closer connection to the earth.

I have always been looking for practical solutions to the civilized way of life which is harmful to ecology and unfit of our dignity as free, sovereign human beings of Divine essence.

In 2008, I discovered a Russian author, Vladimir Mégré, who is the spokesman of a recluse living in the Siberian taïga, Anastasia. For me, it was the ultimate revelation. Here, at last, I found the synthesis of all I had dreamt for the future and health of Man. But I say no more… I’d rather let you discover this first hand! Vladimir Mégré’s books have been translated in twenty languages. 

 

Since I stopped teaching, I dedicate my energy to my garden, to writing, to music and to the synergetic combination of aromatic plants into therapeutic fragrances. These synergies of essential oils are conceived accordingly to Native American traditional shamanic principles applied to current scientific methods. Several therapists from more than ten countries have already confirmed, since its creation in 1999, the efficiency of Liquid Smudge, a purifying essence.

The teachings I received from the Native Americans are most precious. The Natives have an understanding of Nature which is essential to our healing today. Anastasia also speaks about how important it is to preserve our Ancestors’ wisdom.

 

We can all trace back the roots of our lineage to Native people. They once lived on all continents. We are their distant descendants. Thus, we are all inheritors of the wisdom of these communities. We just need to take some time in nature to remember the essence of the wisdom they have handed down to us.  It’s still alive in the rocks, the trees and the animals that live around us.

 

Civilization (which is embodied by hierarchical structures as the Egyptian, the Greek or the Romans, monarchist nations, totalitarian systems, the Commonwealth formed by Anglo-Saxon societies, democratic nations with a centralized government, etc.) are a rather recent phenomenon in the history of Mankind. In that respect, it is interesting to note that one of the first policies these civilizations establish while settling on a territory, is the destruction of the cultures, wisdom and traditions of those who had before been living in accordance with Nature on those lands.

The laws of Nature are immutable. All the Native peoples learnt how to live in accordance with these laws. For Mankind today, this knowledge is essential, not to become Native Americans, but to distil its universal essence, which can enable us to retrieve our rightful position within the global ecosystem of the earth.

Personally I think Anastasia is the best person to teach us the way back to ourselves and to re-acquiring our spiritual sovereignty in harmony with nature. The health and joy experienced within such an environment has no equal. And that to me is what Native means… to be in unity with the world. 

Peace to all our relations.

Blue Eagle