Eagle feather is here this week, gone by Friday

Brave Eagle has had to return his eagle feather.

Mayor Michael Winters, who at Monday’s Memorial Day service was given the name Brave Eagle by the Blackfeet Nation, returned an eagle feather Friday that was also given to him by to the tribe.

The mayor, touched by the gesture Monday, was notified by a federal wildlife warden that he couldn’t keep the feather. It seems it would be a violation federal laws that state non-Native Americans cannot have eagle feathers or parts of migratory birds, Winters said.

Winters and the Montana Veterans Memorial invited the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council to include the names of as many Blackfeet veterans as possible at the memorial. On Monday, 162 tiles were dedicated in honor of those veterans.

On Friday, the mayor returned the feather to Blackfeet members in Browning. He said they believed they could make such a gift for ceremonial purposes.

“I wasn’t going to question the wildlife officer,” Winters said. “That wouldn’t be fruitful.” He said Chief Earl Old Person said a prayer and took the feather back.

“It’s certainly disappointing, because it is such an honor for a non-native,” said Winters, who accepted the name and feather on behalf of the Montana Veterans Memorial committee. Winters added he did want to follow the law.

But he does get to keep his name of Brave Eagle.

Looks like rain

A old-time spoof of soap operas on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” was called “The Edge of Wetness.”

It’s fair to say northcentral Montana is on the edge of wetness following a welcome soggy period in May that brought Great Falls almost exactly back to normal. Precipitation through Thursday evening was 5.33 inches for the year so far in Great Falls, compared to a normal of 5.4 inches. We’re even getting closer to last year’s definitely squishy year-to-date total of 6.99 inches of moisture.

That’s great news for lawns and even farmers, helping make up for a lack of winter snow.

Quote of the Week

“As things stand, more than 62 workers will die for each game played during the 2022 tournament.”

— Statement by the activist group Fair Play Qatar, quoted in The Week magazine, about corruption in world soccer that helped in the awarding of a World Cup event to Qatar, “a blazingly hot country with little tradition in the game.” The Week said migrant workers face horrendous conditions building stadiums for the competition.

Bumper Snicker

“There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.”

— Seen on a red Chrysler Town and Country minivan with Montana vanity plates reading “Carry On” on Last Chance Gulch in Helena.

Surprise of the Week

Mayor Winters filed for a fourth two-year term as Great Falls mayor, despite speculation he might retire, including hints from the mayor himself. The filing sets the state for a spirited contest between Winters and City Commissioner Bob Kelly, who filed for mayor earlier. Voters will make their final decision on three city vacancies, including the mayor and two four-year commissioner seats, Nov. 3 in a by-mail election.

The Tribune editorialized recently that more folks should file for city office, so the more, the merrier.