In Memoriam. John "Spirit Eagle" Barkas

Thursday, August 9, at 6:00pm, our world lost a force of nature. John "Spirit Eagle" Barkas stepped through the shadows and left the physical world. Few people knew John personally, but thousands were affected by his actions and influence.

Recently, John has been known mostly for his efforts in creating The American Wildlife Refuge. This refuge, for the preservation of raptors and nature in general, has been important in bringing nature education to the next generation in our area. John has done hundreds of lectures and assemblies for schools and groups.

It was always about the animals with John. Many days he would go hungry or even have his electricity cut off so he could pay a medical bill for an injured animal. John did not care how he personally lived as long as the animals were cared for.

He got his first hawk when he was 13 years old by working for it. In the following 40+ years he spent no time without some animal in his care. Even in the military he had animals. Before inspection, he would hide or put the animals in his locker. After they found a cobra in his locker, they never looked close at him on inspection. After the military, he worked with several circuses and zoos and eventually became a Curator at the Cleveland Aquarium. He was forced to give most of his 200+ animals away when he moved to NC.

In 1968, he received a call from a man who had an injured Steppe Eagle. Local vets wanted him to euthanize the bird, but John said he would try to help. John reconstructed the shattered bones in the wing, added wires and pins to hold it together and cared for the bird. She lived. Her wing worked well enough for short flights, but she could never hunt again. Over the next 33 years, John kept this bird healthy and happy. He proved that she could indeed survive the injury, and they made journals re-write the age limitations for "Aquilla" from the 17-year maximum to 65 years or more. He named her "Beanca" because it just sounded like a name for an eagle to him. John was honored by the Cherokee Indians and named "Spirit Eagle" by a Black Foot Naming Chief; Beanca was named as a holy animal in their tribe.

John loved disproving charlatans and fakes. He argued with hundreds of vets who killed animals that were found merely stunned and bruised. He disproved many Native American spiritualists who spread lies about the Eagle's role in native culture and history. His pet peeve was claims that Indians did not hunt or trap Eagles, and he disproved that with an old photo of eagle trading in a powwow.

Once, local wildlife authorities seized Beanca while he was at work. The authorities could not control her or even really get close to her. John argued with them, showed his paperwork, and went to get her. They tried to warn him away, but he opened the cage and put her on his bare arm. She stood there calmly to their amazement. She had been crazy and uncontrollable the whole time they had her. He simply said, "She's not your damn bird, stay away from her." And they have ever since.

John's artwork was an outlet for his creativity and emotions. Some of the animal artwork was so detailed, you would swear it was a photograph. His fantasy art had dimensions that just pulled you in. He once painted several murals. To look at the murals you would think the walls themselves had changed shape to accent the depth and beauty. Pictures of Beanca painted on a feather, and pictures of other animals on a slab of agate were some of John's favorite work. No one ever complained about a finished piece. His art was always either exactly what they hoped for or more.

John's mind worked on a different plane than most of us. He would just listen until he had found some sort of common ground he could share, and then he would talk. If there was no common ground or nothing he agreed with, he just smiled, nodded and waited for them to leave. He hated conflict and politics with strangers. With his friends things were different. John was a very dynamic, opinionated person. He had a unique philosophy and belief system that he only shared with a few. He had friends who were diametric opposites whom he treated with equal respect. He rarely gave everyone full knowledge of himself and his life. He loved the animals, probably because he understood them better than people. He truly loved his son. And, finally, John loved his art. I think John's own poems best describe his life:

I never really thought of myself as anything special, but later I realized
that by just being a living breathing sentient being was being the most
special thing of all.
To be alive and be aware of life; to watch other life happening and to be
able to examine it and study it.
                                                                                              - John Spirit Eagle Barkas

To soar like an Eagle is to feel the exhilaration of the gift of freedom.
To see like an eagle is to realize where that gift can take you.
                                                                                              - John Spirit Eagle Barkas

In his passing, John's spirit is finally able to soar and be the eagle it was meant to be.

Memorial by Steve Stone. To help The Wildlife Refuge, or to make a donation, please call (919) 303-1860 or email awrefuge@aol.com.