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Wings of Wonder, LTBB of Odawa Indians come together to create new birds of prey aviary here

Eagle
Migizi



The Migizi Aviary and Wings of Wonder Rehabilitation center is an enormous undertaking. It will be located on LTBB land here, in Harbor Springs. This facility will be the first tribal eagle aviary and raptor center east of the Mississippi River, and one of only eight nationwide. (Images courtesy Wings of Wonder)

The Migizi Aviary and Wings of Wonder Rehabilitation center is an enormous undertaking. It will be located on LTBB land here, in Harbor Springs. This facility will be the first tribal eagle aviary and raptor center east of the Mississippi River, and one of only eight nationwide. (Images courtesy Wings of Wonder)

For the first time in over 30 years, flight pens and cages used to rehabilitate eagles and other birds of prey sit empty at Wings of Wonder Raptor Sanctuary. Wings of Wonder, located in LeeLanau county, was built out of dedication and necessity by founder and director Rebecca Lessard. Lessard is one of the country’s most celebrated raptor rehabilitators. But after years of service to these majestic creatures, including being on call 24/7 for all kinds of raptor emergencies, Lessard decided it was time to retire.

However, her work on behalf of these wild creatures will now continue, as the Little Traverse Bay Band (LTBB) of Odawa Indians has announced a plan to establish the Migizi Aviary and Rehabilitation Center.

The center will be named “Migizi,” which is a Native American word for eagle. The rehabilitation facility will be named, “The Wings of Wonder Rehabilitation Center,” in honor of Rebecca and her lifelong commitment to saving raptors.

It will be located on LTBB land in Harbor Springs. This facility will be the first tribal eagle aviary and raptor center east of the Mississippi River, and one of only eight nationwide.

Rebecca Lessard, biologist, founder of Wings of Wonder, and internationally acclaimed raptor rehabilitator, has retired from a career spanning over 30 years. Her legacy and work on behalf of these majestic creatures will continue as the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians has committed to continuing Lessard’s work and dedication with a new educational and rehabilitation center. (Courtesy photo)

Rebecca Lessard, biologist, founder of Wings of Wonder, and internationally acclaimed raptor rehabilitator, has retired from a career spanning over 30 years. Her legacy and work on behalf of these majestic creatures will continue as the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians has committed to continuing Lessard’s work and dedication with a new educational and rehabilitation center. (Courtesy photo)

The idea for such a facility has been something that Lessard and Doug Craven, Director of Natural resources for the LTBB of Odawa Indians, have thought about for almost a decade. They imagined a public raptor center with a rehabilitation hospital and a lifetime home for several non-releasable eagles to educate the public about these majestic birds. Their shared passion for raptors, the importance of eagles to Native American worship and culture, and the need for awareness about the ongoing human impact on birds of prey kept the idea at the forefront of their future planning. And, in recent years, the idea of a tribal raptor center began to make even more sense in the face of Lessard’s retirement and LTBB’s ever growing participation in the protection and rehabilitation of these birds of prey.

Migizi is the Native American word for eagle. Eagles are highly revered in the Odawa culture. They are considered sacred birds and are central to many of the traditional teachings. The LTBB has assisted with eagle transportation over the years and rehabilitated eagles have been returned to tribal lands for release back into the wild. Pictured here, Tribal Elder, Joe Mitchell assists in the ceremonial release of an eagle. (Photo courtesy of Wings of Wonder)

Migizi is the Native American word for eagle. Eagles are highly revered in the Odawa culture. They are considered sacred birds and are central to many of the traditional teachings. The LTBB has assisted with eagle transportation over the years and rehabilitated eagles have been returned to tribal lands for release back into the wild. Pictured here, Tribal Elder, Joe Mitchell assists in the ceremonial release of an eagle. (Photo courtesy of Wings of Wonder)

“Migizi, eagles, are highly revered within Odawa culture and are central to many traditional teachings. We take great pride in and are honored to take a leading role in safeguarding and caring for these sacred birds,” Craven said. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Rebecca and Wings of Wonder, and to benefit from her matchless knowledge and experience.”

According to Lessard, the opportunity to work with the LTBB was a blessing.

“After 30 years of caring for eagles every day, it was my fondest hope to find a way to pass along my expertise to an organization that could carry this important work into the future,” Lessard said. “Looking into the eyes of eagles, watching them take flight as they are released back into the wild, it is no wonder that Native Americans revere them. What a joy to be able to help the tribe establish a space of sanctuary and healing for these extraordinary creatures.”

Over the years, Craven and the tribe have rescued and transported dozens of eagles and other injured birds of prey to Wings of Wonder for treatment. Many of these raptors were able to return to tribal lands for release back into the wild.

Adobe Stock photo

Adobe Stock photo

This new venture will ensure Lessard’s work continues and that these birds of prey will always have a place and a team to come to their rescue.

Under Craven’s leadership, the LTBB of Odawa Indians has committed to building a state-of-the-art raptor center, hiring tribally-owned Seven Generations (7GAE) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, as architects and engineers.

The Migizi Center will cost approximately $600K, which will come from a combination of tribal commitments, grants, and individual contributions. Wings of Wonder, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization that has long supported the rehabilitation of eagles and other raptors, will be the fundraising arm of the project.

“We are asking our loyal contributors and all those who care about the fate of the Bald Eagle to help raise the funds to establish the Migizi center,” Lessard said. “Every dollar we raise will go directly to work to build pristine enclosures, a clinic for caring for injured raptors, and an aviary that will enable visitors to witness these mighty birds in flight.”

“Looking into the eyes of eagles, watching them take flight as they are released back into the wild, it is no wonder that Native Americans revere them.What a joy to be able to help the tribe establish a space of sanctuary and healing for these extraordinary creatures.” -Wings of Wonder founder and director Rebecca Lessard

“Looking into the eyes of eagles, watching them take flight as they are released back into the wild, it is no wonder that Native Americans revere them.What a joy to be able to help the tribe establish a space of sanctuary and healing for these extraordinary creatures.” -Wings of Wonder founder and director Rebecca Lessard

Once endangered, Bald Eagles are sacred animals in American Indian traditions, culture, and religion. They represent honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, power, and freedom. They are believed to have a special connection with the Creator. Many years of federal protection and private rehabilitation have enabled eagles to avoid extinction though they are still at risk from pesticides, hunters, pollution and other environmental hazards.

Birds of prey hold a special place in the hearts of Lessard, LTBB of Odawa Indians, and many others in the community who have witnessed the release of rehabilitated birds back into the wild.

For Lessard, it all started with a single bird more than 32 years ago, a red-tailed hawk.

Back then, with a degree in biology and a focus in mammal biology, Lessard never saw herself rescuing birds of prey. A veterinarian friend can be credited with planting the seed all those years ago, when he asked Lessard to take over the care of an injured redtailed hawk. Her hesitation and lack of experience with birds was no match for the veterinarian’s persistence that she was the right person for the job. And everything changed the first time she held that hawk.

“I still remember that moment,” Lessard said. “Once I had that bird in my arms, my whole life changed.”

After successfully rehabbing and releasing that bird, Lessard decided to pursue more training in bird rescue and rehabilitation.

“It was such an amazing experience that I wanted to learn more,” She said. “I got more training and then applied for my state and federal permits thinking that I’d rehab a few birds a year. It would be my service work. My way of giving back to the planet.”

But the universe had other plans. Within a few years, Lessard’s career path changed as her life work became saving these majestic creatures. And, now, hundreds of birds owe Lessard their lives. And will continue to thrive under her legacy.

For the LTBB of Odawa Inidians birds of prey have always been held in high regard, especially the eagle.

Joe Mitchell, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Elder and Pipe Carrier, explains the importance of the eagle this way:

“The Anishinaabek look to the Eagle as the messenger to the Creator. The Eagle carries our prayers to the Creator. The Eagle lets the Creator know that some of us are trying to live and walk in a Good Way. The Anishinaabek believe that when we see an eagle that we need to respectfully put some tobacco down on Mother Earth to show the Creator that we’re still living in a Good Way and also to thank the eagle for doing his responsibility and showing us that we need to remember our own responsibilities here. The Eagle can see far. Some say that the Eagle Clan people have the ability to see far also, even to the point of seeing people or things as they really are.”

For more information about the Migizi center and to donate visit: www.wingsofwonder.org