A Warrior's path A Fine Art Exhibit by: Mike J A Holden A Warrior’s Path is a collection of various works by Mike Holden that explore spirituality, traditions, and knowledge systems within the context of indigenous warrior culture, from the 1800s, through to World War II, and up to present day. Various First Nations tribes of Turtle Island are depicted in his work, telling stories that express the warrior mentality, warfare itself, peace, spirituality, love, victory, and the evolution of the warrior in an ever changing world. Featured works: Geronimo by: Mike J A Holden Description: Apache warriors are honored for the courage of their nations which fought with unparalleled bravery against the United States between 1849 and 1886, when Geronimo surrendered, and to a lesser extent for another 38 years after. The tendrils of lightning encasing the warriors are a depiction of how the first peoples saw the lethal power of gunfire that struck men dead with a thunderous flash. The serpent with the many tentacles strangling Geronimo and piercing through the skin of the Apache warriors depicts the mass genocide inflicted by the US. The Apache helicopter, the most lethal helicopter in the world, was named after the Apache Warriors for their ferocity in battle. Some of the weapons used by the Apache warriors have been adopted by the US military such as the Tomahawk and several combat knives. And as early as 1940, American paratroopers of all ancestries adopted “Geronimo” as a battle cry for jumping into combat. Today the Apache warrior tradition continues as a proud and disproportionate number of patriotic Apache men and women who serve in the American military. For this reason the red, white, and blue of the American flag appears in the background—a flag countless Apache veterans have heroically fought under for nearly a century Fine-Day by: Mike J A Holden Description: Fine‐Day was one of the most fierce, well known and respected Plains Cree warriors of his time. He was involved in dozens of battles and horse raids. He was the head/lead warrior of the Rattler society, one of the many Plains Cree tribes of the powerful Iron Confederacy. He was a skilled warrior; hunter; trapper; and, in later life a powerful shaman and elder. On May 2nd 1885 near Battleford Saskatchewan a battalion of North West Mounted Police and 350 Canadian Troops led by William Dillon Otter set foot to obliterate the massive Cree Assiniboine encampment led by Poundmaker. They had 2 cannons and a Gatling gun. A scout early in the morning spotted the approaching soldiers and quickly sent word to the camp. Fine‐Day immediately organized a counter attack. The Cree fought in small groups. One group would run forward, attack the soldiers then rush back to the ravine before the soldiers could get them. As soon as the soldiers tried to attack the warriors on one side, another group of warriors would rush out of the second ravine and attack them from behind. All other warriors guarded the women and children. Otter could not attack, because he had no idea where the enemies were nor of their numbers. After six hours of fighting, Otter decided to withdraw and retreat. Many of Fine‐Day's men wanted to chase the retreaters down and kill them but Poundmaker asked the warriors to let them leave and live. The warriors respected Poundmaker and Otter so the men safely escaped. Had Chief Poundmaker had not asked his warriors to let the troops escape the battle may have turned into a massacre, just like the Battle of Little Big Horn. Some People compare this battle, the Battle of Cut Knife, to the Battle of Little Big Horn. It is estimated that Fine‐Day had only 50‐100 warriors and Canada had nearly 400 troops two cannons and a Gatling gun. The Cree still won. Thus the destroyed cannon burning on fire at the bottom of the painting is present. Wandering Spirit by: Mike J A Holden Description: Wandering spirit was the most military accomplished Cree warrior of the entire 1800's, earning a total of 12 scalps in his lifetime. He had several dozens of victorious battles with the fierce Blackfoot people and most notably the victory of the battle of Frenchman’s Butte. Frenchman's Butte was a battle fought between Canada and a starving, fed up, and enraged Force of 200 Cree warriors led by War Chief Wandering Spirit. Canada had a force of 400 soldiers, with a mix of cowboys, NWMP and settlers led by Thomas Bland Strange. The battle was a victory for the Cree, but a hollow one. The rebellion was hopeless for other Cree factions and tribes throughout the prairie's were forced to surrender. The Métis uprising was also over and with all the remaining Cree were then forced to sign the treaties due to starvation, which was caused by the government killing and slaughtering the buffalo to near extinction. Canada was now free to conquer the rest of the great, beautiful land called the Canadian prairies. Wandering Spirits fate was a terrible one. Having been filled with rage towards the expanding Canadian Government Wandering Spirit gathered about a dozen warriors all under the influence of alcohol, including Wandering Spirit. They went on a killing spree, killing an Indian Agent and two priests. Wandering Spirit was later arrested and hung, along with 7 other warriors. Before he was hung he sang a love song to his wife. Wandering Spirit is seen as a menacing villain, often misunderstood and hated, he was actually a loving gentle man, later told by his wives. Among the Cree Wandering Spirit was not different nor menacing, all the Cree were terrified and mad at what the future looked like with the buffalo gone and the Fire Water (alcohol). It was a scary and sad time. Wandering Spirit will always be remembered with a good heart amongst all Plains Indian Tribes. Dreaver by: Mike J A Holden Description: Chief Joseph Dreaver (1892-1978) was a decorated veteran of both WWI and WWII. While serving as a sapper in the 1st World War he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at Ypres. He reenlisted at the age of 48 when WWII broke out. Because of his age he remained in AB serving as a guard of POWs. Dreaver's accommodations included: 2 Coronation Medals, a Confederation of Canada Medal, a Second World War Medal, a Voluntary Service Medal, the Military Medal, and the Great War for Civilization Medal. He served for more than 40 years as Chief of the Mistawasis Cree Band and was a lifetime member of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians. Impossible Odds by: Mike J A Holden Description: A Warrior is not only one of strong physical capabilities, and cunning instincts. A warrior also trains his mind to be at one with his spirit, so he can see beyond the illusions of this world. Here, a lone warrior stands against the enemy, singing his death song and meeting his fate. When overrun by the enemy, Dog Soldiers did not retreat, but rather staked their sashes to the ground with an arrow and sang their way home to the Creator, to ensure a good death. A good death is where one’s life is given with courage and selflessness for his people. Death is seen as only one phase of eternal life, just as birth. Fear in warrior traditions belongs to illusion, as every fate that meets us is bringing us what we need to pass through in this physical realm as spiritual beings Thunderbird Warrior by: Mike J A Holden Description: The coming of thunder in the spring is a gift from the Thunderbeings, a promise of renewal, an awakening. The return of the thunder in the spring is a spiritual salve for the losses of the past year, and throughout the harsh and unforgiving winters. It is a time for warriors to heal, and to grow strong again, and to prepare. The Thunderbeings bring with their return, the recharge needed for a warrior to rise again and to hold a place of courage and selflessness for the people. Artist Mike Holden carries Coming of Thunder, as his traditional spirit name. He is also the son of a lightning strike survivor who carries a name to honour the Thunderbeings. The Thunderbird is depicted in this painting to show us the unseen bringers of the thunder and lightning, and the rifles represent the harnessed power of the Thunderbeings that they were believed to contain when they were first introduced, being powerful instruments to provide for and protect the people. Behind the warrior is the sun, which returns along with the thunder to renew the warrior’s strength. Six Nations by: Mike J A Holden Description: The Iroquois Confederacy is composed of six Haudenosaunee nations. The traditional homeland of the Haudenosaunee is a region along the south shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in what are now the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont where the Haudenosaunee lived by cultivating corn, squash, and beans as well as hunting. Prior to confederation the initial five nations of the confederacy; the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca were in a state of vicious warfare with each other. During these conflicts two men, Hiawatha and Deganawida managed to broker a peace between the warring nations and create what was to become one of the most dominant military and political forces in the Eastern Woodlands. During the early 18th century the people of the Iroquoian Tuscarora nation were displaced from their homeland in present-day Virginia and North Carolina by English colonists, causing them to migrate north and settle with their relatives, thus becoming the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.