From the parking lot of Trader Joe’s on James Street you can hear the sound of a drum beating. It almost sounds like a heartbeat — steady and strong.
Eagle Bear has been beating his drum around Bellingham for the past four years. As a storyteller and free spirit, this is his way of sharing his Native Lummi culture with his community.
“That’s what I love to do,” Eagle Bear said. “It is my passion. In our culture, there is always someone like me to help elevate and keep the spirit alive, like feeding a fire.”
The flooding in Whatcom County this past November damaged his home on Marine Drive. Now, Eagle Bear beats his drum not only to share his story but also to ask for help.
From the red picnic table in the parking lot, he sells earrings and sings songs of hope — his heart is postured in a stance of grace, despite cruel circumstances.
“We are the people of Mother Earth,” he sings. “We are the children of the universe. We’re not the first. We must survive the rising of the tide.”
Eagle Bear performs a chant of hope from his parking lot post on March 18. (Victoria Corkum/Cascadia Daily News) WTD runs on Wednesdays. Have a suggestion for a “What’s the Deal With?” inquiry? Email us at newstips@cascadiadaily.com.
