After over a decade in tribal politics, Iowa elder and former tribe treasurer, Victor Roubidoux now works caring for his people’s most sacred animal, the eagle. The Bah Kho-je Xla Chi or Grey Snow Eagle House in Perkins, Oklahoma is one of only two tribal-run rehabilitation programs for eagles in the United States. Indian Gaming Business/ Rebuilding Tribal Communities caught up with Roubidoux to learn more about the program.

INDIAN GAMING BUSINESS/Rebuilding Tribal Communities: How and when did you get involved with the eagle rehabilitation program?

Roubidoux: The seeds for this project started in 2002. We saw an article in the paper about how the Zunis were taking care of injured eagles. A light bulb went off. We thought that this would be a great project for tribes in Oklahoma. In March of 2003, we made our annual pilgrimage to DC, and we talked to all the senators and congressmen about the eagle rehabilitation program, but they couldn’t offer us any funding, and we couldn’t afford do the whole thing ourselves.

IGB: So what happened next? Did you give up on the idea?

Roubidoux: Well, about a year later, in ’04, the Fish and Wildlife agency came up with their first-ever tribal wildlife grant. By that time, I was out of office and looking for something to do. When I heard about the grant, I said that we needed to pursue it. We got the grant for $250,000, and the tribe gave $50,000 of tribal funds. Then a year later, they gave us another $50,000 once the program had started.

IGB: Did any of those funds come from gaming?

Roubidoux: Yes, besides grants, the funds came from gaming and tobacco sales.

IGB: How did you end up running the show?

Roubidoux: When the tribe asked me if I wanted the project, my first inclination was ‘yes,’ but I had to check with my wife. I knew it would mean a big change in our lifestyle.

IGB: How so?

Roubidoux: The birds have to come first. I’m out there now seven days a week. The birds don’t take a holiday. So it was a real change. The tribe had me doing everything from buying the site, developing the plans and getting the contractors. I had to also get 100 hours of bird training up in Colorado at the Birds of Prey Foundation. It was the greatest experience. I couldn’t believe it when I first held an eagle. It was incredible.

IGB: Do you remember the first day you brought an eagle to your facility?

Roubidoux: The first bird we brought into our facility was in January 2006. It was cold, but you wouldn’t believe the people who showed up for it. We had tribes from all over Oklahoma, about 200 people, who came for that. We’ve been open for two years now, and we have eight birds, both bald and golden eagles. Six of them are non-releasable birds that we use for educational purposes, and we have two rehabilitation eagles.

IGB: Why did your tribe want to rehabilitate and care for eagles?

Roubidoux: We believe the eagle is the only one who has seen the face of the Creator. So, for us to be able to take an injured bird, care for it and release it back into the wild means a lot to our people. We believe that the rehabilitated bird will go back to the Creator and hopefully tell the Creator that we took care of him. Then maybe the Creator will bless our people. We’ve released one eagle already back into the wild. And we give the birds [the eagles] a home no matter what, because they’ve done so much for us, like giving us the use of its feathers in our ceremonies. It is our chance to give back to them. They are sacred.

IGB: Speaking of eagle feathers, did you read in the papers about the court case involving a man who shot an eagle to bring feathers for his tribe?

Roubidoux: I heard something like that about a year ago, wasn’t it about some folks in Wyoming or Montana who were shooting eagles? Well, we don’t like to hear about eagles getting shot, but different tribes have different ways, and we do have to respect their beliefs. We are actually allowed to take the feathers from our birds when they drop them in late September and then pass them out to our tribal members.

IGB: Is there an educational component to your rehab project?

Roubidoux: Oh yes. Since we opened, we’ve had 932 visitors from around the world and the United States. School kids come to learn about eagles, and then they come back with their grandparents and aunts and uncles. We’ve had tribes visit from across the U.S. We have viewing rooms where people can watch the eagles. When I’m talking to the visitors, I really stress the importance of the eagle to our people, especially to the kids.

IGB: What’s next for the project?

Roubidoux: We are raising funds to build onto the aviary, as well as an ICU [intensive care unit]. We have a permit for up to 15 birds, and I think in a year we’ll have that many. There is a huge need for more facilities like ours in Indian Country, and we have made the offer to help any tribe that wants to build a facility like ours.

IGB: Any takers?

Roubidoux: We’re trying to get the word out still. We just made a video of our facility to teach people about it. You know there is no monetary return for the work we do. It is not just about getting feathers. It is about doing the right thing. The Indian people were the conservationists and stewards of the land before there was the U.S. government. It is important to take care of our lands and our animals just like we did in the past.

IGB: You’ve been at this job for two years; do you ever miss politics?

Roubidoux: Thirteen years is a long haul in tribal politics. Working with the birds is totally different, there’s no stress. Really. To be with those birds is an honor. I lose track of time when I’m out there. My wife will call me and ask, ‘you ever coming home?’ I don’t realize how the time flies when I’m with those birds.