"Bezik-Igawes"(Buffalo Mother)
by Gerard Tsonakwa, Abenaki
"Bezik-Igawes"
(Buffalo Mother)
by Gerard Tsonakwa, Abenaki
There were forest buffalo who ranges through the
mid-Atlantic and western New England, and New York. This is a Western Abenaki buffalo
image evolved through intermediary people, primarily Cree. The Ontario and James Bay Cree
had relatives among the Prairie Cree who hunted Buffalo.
I carved this face and it seems to have been informed by childhood memory. Once painted
and hung on my wall, I at once recognized it to be Sister Mary _____ who was our Mother
Superior and who was variously called Sister Mary St. Bison or Mother Buffalo. May God
forgive me!
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