FOOTHILLS SCHOOL DIVISION NO. 38
"First Feather" lands at Longview School

Foothills School Division, alongside the Longview School community, is pleased to accept a beautiful piece of artwork by local artist and educator, Paul Rasporich. Mr. Rasporich approached Principal Andrea Laubman at Longview School, seeking a space for the eagle to land. Joined by Lane Bearspaw at Longview School's "Orange Shirt Day" ceremony, the painting was gifted to the school, along with the story of the significant rite-of-passage taking place in the picture. "Our school community is honoured to have this painting living in our gathering room," states Principal Andrea Laubman, "thank you Mr. Rasporich."

The Story of the First Feather, from the Artist, Paul Rasporich:

First Feather, 48 x 56 " Oil on Panel, 2004, by Paul Rasporich 

My first teaching job upon earning my teaching degree was a Design and Drawing courses at Nakoda College in Morley in 2000 in conjunction with the then Alberta College of Art and Design. I so loved working there, as elders and community members would wander into the classroom, creating a very homelike atmosphere. So much so, that an elder couple, John and Nora Stevens included me in ceremony, and later adopted me as their grandson. 

 John and Nora told me about how Eagles used to be captured as a rite of passage for youth. A young person would go to a high hill, dig a pit large enough to hide in and cover it with branches and grass. Deer meat would be fastened, dead rabbit or coyote would be lashed to branches for eagle bait, while the young person hid below in the pit. Once the eagle grabbed the meat in their talons, the person would grab the eagle by the leg, pluck a tailfeather, and release the eagle. It was an act of bravery and a rite of passage.

I felt that this story that I was being told was incredibly powerful visually, and asked a young student in our class if he could pose for me. His name was Oliver Salter. We drove to a nearby hill, and I also asked another student by the name of Jarrett Twoyoungmen (now a renowned I'yethka Nakoda filmmaker) if he could hold some tie-down straps and try to lift Oliver off of the ground while I took photos for the painting to make it look as accurate as possible. People driving by us, must of thought it was a very strange scene.

To make the eagle look accurate, I travelled to the Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale to get Director Colin Weir to get a huge Golden Eagle by the name of Sarah to open her wings while perched on his arm to get a good photo to work from. Ironically, Colin would bring Sarah the eagle to the Longview school gymnasium, where she would be serenaded by The Traveling Mabels on Eagle Pride Day. The Mabels sang, "A Song for Spirit," to Sarah, a song that my then grade 1 and 2 class had written to cheer up a blind golden eagle named Spirit that had been shot. My students had previously recorded that song with Ian Tyson, who has often performed in the Longview school gym.

I have had the painting in my basement for 19 years, and have waited for the right home. John Stevens was born in a tipi not far from Longview, before the town, or Little Chicago even existed. The Longview Hill likely was used for eagle captures. On Orange Shirt Day, Lane Bearspaw explained to the students what was happening in my painting much more eloquently than I could. As I told Principal Laubman, she did a really good ceremony because everyone was happy afterward, and I noticed walking out to my car that an eagle was circling the school. The Foothills School Division family has been a good place for me to work, and for my own family, and I am happy that my painting has landed in the right home. The Eagle represents Love!

 -Paul Rasporich

Learn more about Paul Rasporich at his website