Theeagle bone whistle is a religious object that is used by some members ofNative American spiritual societies insacred ceremonies. They are made from bones of either the Americanbald eagle or the Americangolden eagle, and are considered powerful spiritual objects.[1][2][3]
Eagle bone whistles are used in many ceremonies of various American Indigenous cultures.[1] The eagle bone whistle may be considered as a ceremonial or sacred object which may not be considered a musical instrument, if music is defined as entertainment: "There is no time or need...to wallow in distinctions between a feather-and-bone raptor and a bone whistle avian mysticism; one would no doubt end indichotomous Western readings thereof."[4]
The whistle is used in somePeyote ceremonies of some sects of theNative American Church.[5] Eagle bone whistles are used in a number ofSun Dance cultures, such as theCrow.[3] The eagle-bone whistle is also used by theLakota people in certain ceremonies,[4] such as some Sun Dances.[6]
Both the bald and golden eagle are protected by federal law: theMigratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) prohibits the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and importation of migratory birds, their eggs, parts, and nests except as authorized under a valid permit as outlined at50 CFR 21.11[8][9] The MBTA authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to determine if, and by what means, the hunting of migratory birds should be allowed, as well as to adopt and implement suitable regulations permitting and governing the hunting of any type of migratory bird (for example, hunting seasons for ducks and geese). TheEagle feather law is another name for the exemptions to this act that are sometimes granted to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American tribes. Penalties under the MBTA include a maximum of two years imprisonment and $250,000 fine for a felony conviction and six months imprisonment or $5,000 fine for a misdemeanor conviction.[10] Fines double if the violator is an organization rather than an individual. These laws would also apply to the collection and use of eagle bone whistles.
^abMaroukis, Thomas Constantine (2005).Peyote and the Yankton Sioux: The Life and Times of Sam Necklace, p.174. University of Oklahoma.ISBN9780806136493. "Some of the visitors join us in all our social, spiritual, and other activities and become adopted members. This book was written by such a man [Maroukis], who came to visit us and was accepted into our family over the last fifteen years." Leonard Bruguier, "Foreword", p.xii-iii.
^Maroukis, Thomas C. (2012).The Peyote Road: Religious Freedom and the Native American Church, p.84. University of Oklahoma.ISBN9780806185965.
^abGannon, Thomas C. (2009).Skylark Meets Meadowlark: Reimagining the Bird in British Romantic and Contemporary Native American Literature, p.227. University of Nebraska.ISBN9780803226166. "For their use in the Sun Dance, see Standing Bear,My People 114; Fire and Erdoes 198, 206, 210. ... Momaday mentions the use of the eagle bone whistle in a Kiowa ceremony (Way 39)", p.363, n.40.
^Swan, Daniel C. (1999).Peyote Religious Art: Symbols of Faith and Belief, p.29. University of Mississippi.ISBN9781578060962.
