"The Eagle Is My Brother" original was done as an oil pencil on Coquille board from a paper mill in France.   Coquille board is no longer manufactured. 

"The Eagle Is My Brother" is based on a legend/tale that Jim discovered while doing his research.  Many, many generations ago, the people did not always battle to the death, in fact, it was an honor to count coup. Following is an explantion by W. Ben Hunt, an expert on handicraft and Indian Lore authority:

"Regardless of where or how an Indian brave accumulated feathers, he was not allowed, according to tribal law, to wear them until he won them by a brave deed. He had to appear before the tribal council and tell or re-enact his exploit.  Witnesses were examined and if, in the eyes of the council, the deed was thought to be worthy, the brave was authorized to wear the feather or feathers in his hair or war bonnet. 

The honors were called "counting coup" (pronounced "coo").  Deeds of exceptional valor, such as to touch the enemy without killing him and escape, were called "grand coup" and were rated more than one feather.  Sometimes a tuft of horsehair or down was added to the tip of a feather to designate additional honor.  Some tribes designated special deeds by special marking on "coup" feathers, such as cutting notches or adding paint spots.

The coup feathers of the American Indian can be compared to the campaign ribbons and medals awarded to our modern soldier.  An Indian would rather part with his horse, his tepee, or even his wife, than loose his eagle feathers.  To do so would be to be dishonored in the eyes if the tribe.  Many old Indian chiefs such as "Many Coup" of the Crow tribe, have won enough honors to wear a double-tailed bonnet that dragged on the ground and to carry a feathered lance to display the additional feathers."

The Legend for which Jim's drawing is based is as follows:  "A young man had counted his first coup and the council authorized him to wear his first feather.  He went out to shoot an eagle, but the eagle, in defense, swooped down, and with his talons, struck the braves face.  The eagle had counted coup on him. He never collected or wore eagle feathers to symbolize his many coup.  Even as an elder and greatly respected chief, he proclaimed the scars were his "coup feathers" .  The eagle was a mighty warrior..."The Eagle Is My Brother".