Spirit Animal - Honouring Delinda, The Leader of the Bow Valley Pack

                                                                                                          Picture of  Delinda, a black wolf of the Bow Valley Pack.  Photo credit to John Marriott and Rocky Mountain Outlook with article by writer, Cathy Ellis.

 

 

 

In the September 22, 2008 edition of the Maclean's Magazine, an amazing eulogy appears in the section known as "The End".  The article, written by Nicholas Kohler, pays tribute to a very individualistic wolf called Delinda.  Kohler does a wonderful retelling of Delinda's life - describing how she came to the pack, and how she taught them.  Her tale is similar to that of the maiden school teacher moving to a small town and making an impact on the residents of the area.

When I originally read this article, I shed a few tears, as is appropriate for one who moves on.  The Ancestors say that shedding tears is an honouring of the soul of the warrior.  Delinda was indeed a warrior.  Why would I cry?  Well, this is personal.  Several times when Roger and I have been through the parks, we have seen Delinda and once we saw her and another small wolf.  She is very distinguished.  Also, over the last two years, I have heard some stories of this famous black wolf from various friends and clients that have seen her, or that have a story about her from a friend.  She is legend.

We often talk about animal guides for humans.  Delinda was an animal guide for animals, and perhaps for humans.  She taught what she knew, and tried to protect her people from the humans.  Perhaps she is the next evolution of wolf that Nature is experimenting with.  Yes, she was run over.  However, each month, looking only at Calgary, there are pedestrian/vehicle accidents where humans get hurt, and sometimes killed.  Nature does mimic people. 

I did some research on Delinda, and that is where the above picture and a different article that honours her life came from.  The original article and picture from Rocky Mountain Outlook paper may be found at the following web location: http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymountainoutlook/news/27854344.html.

As a Spirit Guide, the wolf, particularly a lone wolf, symbolizes freedom.  Perhaps Delinda is a Spirit Guide for all of Canada.   As Canadians, we understand that to the core of our being. We are a democracy, and we stand for freedom.  When we see the wolf in a pack formation, we intuitively understand that the wolves are about community.  We envy them because in our fast paced lives, we have lost our sense of community.  We struggle, as Delinda's band was doing before she arrived, to make our way in the world on our own.  Our Ancestors worked in community on most things or they would not have survived the Canadian wilderness.  Wolf's message may be that perhaps it is time to return to a more "sharing" community.  

Wolf's howl is primitive and powerful.  We recognize the sound as being one that tells others "I am here!  This is my land.  This is my territory.  Know that when you enter it, you abide by my rules."   Canadians resonate with this setting of boundaries.  Wolf's message may be challenging Canadians to finally start setting boundaries about other countries buying up land, and establishing their territory.  As the Wolf does, perhaps Canada needs to limit (boundaries) who enters, and set boundaries around languaging and schooling. 

If you read the story about Delinda, you will read how she carried food to an Elder, until the Elder passed.  This is more compassion than most humans show.  Wolf is clearly sending a message about balance.  While Wolf maintains its individuation, it also has a pack persona.  The good of the pack is critical to the pack's survival.  Wolf sends a message to each of us about maintaining balance in our lives - about being respectful of the elderly, and not ditching them for material gain.   There is a message about learning from our Elders and from each other.  And most of all, the message is about being impeccable in one's behaviour.

If you have time today, send a thoughtful prayer to the Universe in memory of Delinda and her teaching.

Judith