February 19, 1956 - May 31, 2018
We all received the terrible news this
week that after a long battle with several
major health issues, Eagle Eyes has passed
away. His family’s songs, which he sang at
the front of so many social justice actions,
are still playing in our heads. We only
knew Eagle Eyes in the last few years of
his life, but in that time he made a deep
impact on our work. He was a respected
shíshálh (Sechelt) elder, a survivor of the
residential school system, and a leader by
example.
There were weeks when we would see him
practically every day at different actions
and meetings. He would be up early in
the morning and never home until late at
night, using a cane more frequently as his
illnesses progressively attacked his body.
Climate justice, self-determination for
indigenous nations, Cuba and Venezuela
solidarity, anti-war actions, the fight
for human and democratic rights - he
approached them all the same way: with
determination to win, and a mission to
connect the struggles and share protocol
along the way.
We also knew him for his big smile and
bigger dreams. One of those dreams he
spoke of often was to organize a gigantic
city-wide party when we defeated the
Kinder Morgan pipeline. We are more
determined than ever and to make this a
reality, and to fight for the better world,
he dedicated his entire life to.
Eagle Eyes will be with us every step of
the way.
