Portrait of Grey Owl (1936),
by Yousuf Karsh.

Grey Owl (or Wa-sha-quon-asin, from the Ojibwe wenjiganoozhiinh, meaning "great horned owl" or "great grey owl") was the name Archibald Belaney (September 18, 1888 – April 13, 1938) adopted when he took upon a First Nations identity as an adult. He was a writer and became one of Canada's first conservationists. Portrait of Grey Owl taken by Yousuf Karsh on February 27, 1936. ... Portrait of Grey Owl taken by Yousuf Karsh on February 27, 1936. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Yousuf Karsh - Self portrait Yousuf Karsh, CC (December 23, 1908 – July 13, 2002) was a Canadian photographer of Armenian birth, and one of the most famous and accomplished portrait photographers of all time. ... Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa or Anishinaabemowin in Eastern Ojibwe syllabics) is the third most commonly spoken Native language in Canada (after Cree and Inuktitut), and the fourth most spoken in North America (behind Navajo, Cree, and Inuktitut). ... Binomial name (Gmelin, 1788) Distribution Subspecies see text Synonyms Strix virginiana Gmelin, 1788 The Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a very large owl native to North and South America. ... Binomial name Strix nebulosa Forster, 1772 The Great Grey Owl or Lapland Owl (Strix nebulosa) is a very large owl. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1937 in Canada, 1939 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history. ... First Nations is a term of ethnicity used in Canada. ... The conservation ethic is an ethic of resource use, allocation, exploitation, and protection. ...

Biography

Early years

Archibald Stansfeld Belaney was born in September 1888 in Hastings, England, to a farmer family. His father wasted the family fortune in drinking. Some sources also suggest that his mother was only 13 years old when they were married. His parents separated in 1901, and his father left the country. Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Hastings (disambiguation). ... Motto  2(French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen 3 United Kingdom() – on the European continent() – in the European Union() Capital London Largest conurbation (population) Greater London Urban Area Official languages English (de facto)4 Government  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Gordon Brown Formation  -  Acts of...

Belaney was raised by his grandmother and two maiden aunts. He expressed an interest in nature and American Indians at an early age. He went to Hastings Grammar School, and at the age of 16 – due to his aunts' urging – left to work for a timber yard. He was fired when he dropped a bomb down his employer's chimney. The William Parker School, formerly known as Hastings Grammar School, is a Secondary school in Hastings, East Sussex in the United Kingdom. ...

Immigration to Canada

In 1906 Belaney emigrated to Canada, ostensibly to study agriculture. After a brief time in Toronto, he moved to Temagami, Northern Ontario, and adopted an Indian identity and the name Grey Owl. He also married an Anishinaabe woman, Angele Egwuna. He worked as a fur trapper, wilderness guide and forest ranger. He explained that he was a child of a Scottish father and Apache mother and had emigrated from the US to join the Ojibwa. Emigration is the action and the phenomenon of leaving ones native country to settle abroad. ... Temagami is a town in northeastern Ontario, Canada, in the District of Nipissing on Lake Temagami. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area [1] Ranked... Anishinaabe or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek (which is the plural form of the word) is a self-description often used by people belonging to the indigenous Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonkin peoples of North America, who share closely related Algonquian languages. ... A fur trapper is a person who is involved the capture of wild mammals for their fur. ... A Park Ranger is a person hired to protect and guard parkland, forests (then called Forest Rangers), or other rural or wilderness areas. ... This article is about the Native American tribe, for other uses of the word see Apache (disambiguation). ... Chippewa redirects here. ...

During World War I, in 1915, Grey Owl joined the 13th Montreal Battalion of the Black Watch. His unit was shipped to France, where he served as a sniper. His compatriots treated him as an Indian and generally praised his conduct afterwards. He was wounded first in January 1916 and then again on April 24, 1916 with a shot through the foot. The wound contracted gangrene, and he was shipped to England for treatment. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers practice sniper marksmenship at their firing range near Baghdad, Iraq in 2005. ... Gangrene is necrosis and subsequent decay of body tissues caused by infection or thrombosis or lack of blood flow. ...

Grey Owl was moved from one British infirmary to another for a full year while doctors tried in vain to restore his foot. He also met and briefly married childhood friend Constance Holmes. The marriage failed. He was shipped back to Canada in September 1917 and honorably discharged on November 30 with a disability pension. A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ... A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. ... Disability pension is a form of pension given to those people who are permanently or temporarily unable to work due to a disability. ...

Career

In 1925 he met the Iroquois woman Gertrude Bernard (whom he later called Anahareo), who encouraged him to stop trapping and publish his writings about wilderness life. His writings attracted the attention of the Dominion Parks Service, and he began to work for them as a naturalist. In 1931 he and Anahareo moved briefly to a cabin in Riding Mountain National Park with their two pet beavers, Jellyroll and Rawhide. Next year they moved to near Ajawaan Lake in Prince Albert National Park. Languages Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Tuscarora, English, French Religions Christianity, Longhouse religion The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the League of Peace and Power; the Five Nations; the Six Nations; or the People of the Long house) is a group of First Nations/Native Americans that originally consisted of... Anahareo (June 18, 1906 – July 1, 1986) was the wife of Grey Owl and was the person who encouraged him to stop trapping and publish his writings about wilderness life. ... The Canadian National Parks system is run by Parks Canada, which also runs Canadas National Historic Sites. ... Table of natural history, 1728 Cyclopaedia Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now often viewed as several distinct scientific disciplines of integrative organismal biology. ... Riding Mountain National Park is a national park in Manitoba, Canada. ... Ajawaan Lake, Saskatchewan is in Prince Albert National Park, 700 metres from the north end of Kingsmere Lake via a wide portage trail. ... Prince Albert National Park covers 3,874 km² (1,496 mi²) in central Saskatchewan, Canada and is located 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Saskatoon. ...

In his articles, books, and films he promoted the idea of environmentalism and nature conservation. In 1931, He wrote several articles for the Canadian Forestry Association (CFA) publication Forests and Outdoors: Film may refer to: photographic film a motion picture in academics, the study of motion pictures as an art form a thin skin or membrane, or any covering or coating, whether transparent or opaque a thin layer of liquid, either on a solid or liquid surface or free-standing Film... For the psychology topic, see Environmental psychology. ...

• King of the Beaver People, January 1931
• A Day in a Hidden Town, April 1931
• A Mess of Pottage, May 1931
• The Perils of Woods Travel, September 1931
• Indian Legends and Lore, October 1931
• A Philosophy of the Wild, December 1931

In 1935 and 1937 he successfully toured England (including Hastings) in Ojibwa costume to promote his books and lecture about conservation. His aunts recognized him but remained silent until 1937. In his latter tour he also visited the court and met princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

The tours fatigued him badly, and in 1938 he returned to Beaver Lodge, his cabin at Ajawaan Lake. Grey Owl died of pneumonia on April 13, 1938; he is buried near his cabin. Pneumonia is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the alveoli (microscopic air-filled sacs of the lung responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere) become inflamed and flooded with fluid. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Exposure

Doubts about his Amerindian identity began appearing after his death. The North Bay Nugget newspaper ran the first expose, followed up by international news organisations such as The Times. His publisher Lovat Dickson tried to prove Belaney's Indian identity, but unfortunately had to admit that his friend had lied to him. "Grey Owl" had been an invention, an invented Indian like Forrest Carter, Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance, and Ward Churchill. The North Bay Nugget is a daily newspaper in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... Forrest Carter, (September 4, 1925 – June 7, 1979) was the pseudonym of Asa Earl Carter, an American novelist. ... Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance was the name Sylvester C. Long (1890-1932) used after he had taken a mantle of an American Indian. ... Photo of Ward Churchill from University of Colorado faculty web page Ward LeRoy Churchill (born October 2, 1947) is an American writer, Vietnam veteran, political activist, and academic. ...

The consequences of this revelation were dramatic. Publication of the Grey Owl books ceased immediately, and in some cases they were withdrawn from publication. This in turn had a knock-on effect on the conservation causes with which Belaney had been associated, affecting donations to conservationist causes badly.

Posthumous recognition

Numerous books about Grey Owl have been published, including:

• Half-Breed: The Story of Grey Owl by Lovat Dickson (1939)
• My Life with Grey Owl by Anahareo (1940)
• Devil in Deerskins: My Life with Grey Owl by Anahareo (1972) published in the UK as Grey Owl and I: A New Autobiography by Anahareo (1972)
• Wilderness Man: The Strange Story of Grey Owl by Lovat Dickson (1974)
• From the Land of Shadows: the Making of Grey Owl by Donald B. Smith (1990)

In 1999, the film Grey Owl premiered, directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Pierce Brosnan in the title role. The film received mixed reviews and received no theatrical release in the United States. Attenborough had seen Grey Owl at the London Palladium theatre as a teenager along with his brother, the naturalist David Attenborough. On a Michael Parkinson chat show in 1999, Richard Attenborough mentioned that they were both very affected by seeing Grey Owl, perhaps influencing their future career paths. See also: 1938 in literature, other events of 1939, 1940 in literature, list of years in literature. ... See also: 1939 in literature, other events of 1940, 1941 in literature, list of years in literature. ... See also: 1971 in literature, other events of 1972, 1973 in literature, list of years in literature. ... See also: 1971 in literature, other events of 1972, 1973 in literature, list of years in literature. ... See also: 1973 in literature, other events of 1974, 1975 in literature, list of years in literature. ... See also: 1989 in literature, other events of 1990, 1991 in literature, list of years in literature. ... The year 1999 in film involved some significant events. ... Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE (born August 29, 1923) is a prolific English film and stage actor, and Academy Award, BAFTA, and three-time Golden Globe winning director, producer, and entrepreneur. ... Pierce Brendan Brosnan OBE[1] (born May 16, 1953) is an Irish actor and producer best known for portraying James Bond in four films: GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002). ... Sir David Frederick Attenborough, OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS (born on 8 May 1926 in London, England) is one of the worlds best known broadcasters and naturalists. ... Michael Parkinson CBE (born 28 March 1935) is an English journalist and television presenter. ...

On the 100th anniversary of his birth, a Canadian Red Maple tree was planted in his honor in the grounds of Hastings Grammar School, now renamed William Parker School. In June 1997, the mayor of Hastings and the borough's Member of Parliament (Michael Foster), unveiled a plaque in his honor on the house at 32 St James Road where he was born [1]. There is also a commemorative plaque to Grey Owl by the ranger station at Hastings Country Park, 4 miles to the east of Hastings, and a full-size replica of his Canadian lakeside cabin in Hastings Museum at Summerfields, along with an exhibition of memorabilia. Binomial name Acer rubrum L. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is also known as Swamp Maple or Soft Maple. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... See also Michael John Foster, MP for Worcester Michael Jabez Foster (born February 26, 1946) British politician He is the Labour Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye Michael Foster was born in Hastings, East Sussex and attended the local Hastings Secondary School for Boys and the Hastings Grammar School... Fairlight Road Car Park Hastings Country Park was formed in 1974 and covers 660 acres east of Hastings in England. ... Hastings Museum and Art Gallery is a museum and art gallery located in, Hastings, East Sussex. ...

In 2004, Deejay Ra launched a 'Grey Owl' Birthday Recognition Campaign incorporating Grey Owl titles into his 'Hip-Hop Literacy' project and campaigning on Canadian community TV for September 18th birthday recognition on the country's calendars for the first author to teach Native rights at Harvard University. In 2005, the birthday recognition campaign led to Key Porter Books re-publishing Grey Owl's "Tales From An Empty Cabin" classic and inspired a BookTV special that featured Deejay Ra and Lord Attenborough discussing Grey Owl's legacy.

Grey Owl also is frequently discussed and praised in the book, "Sense of Adventure: An Account of a Journey in the Canadian Wilderness." In that book, the author, Adam Shoalts, refers to Grey Owl as his hero and praises him as a wilderness sage.

Grey Owl's books

• Cry of the Ancients. Illustrated by Daniel Nicholas. Independence, Mo.: Herald Pub. House, c1974.
• The Men of the Last Frontier. Don Mills, Ontario: Stoddard, 1992.
• Pilgrims of the Wild. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books, 1983; first published 1935.
• Sajo and the Beaver People. Toronto: General, 1991; originally published: MacMillan Co. of Canada, 1935.
• Tales of an Empty Cabin. Don Mills, Ontario: Stoddard, 1992, 1936.
• The Tree, by Wa-Sha-Quon-asin (Grey Owl). London: Lovat Dickson Ltd., c1937.
• Grey Owl and the Beaver (1935) Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd (co-authored with Harper Cory).
• The Adventures of Sajo and her Beaver People (1935)

Harmondsworth is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon nearby to London Heathrow Airport. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total 130...

Collected editions

The Men of the Last Frontier, Pilgrims of the Wild and Sajo and her Beaver People The first three of the above have been collected and reprinted as Grey Owl: Three Complete and Unabridged Canadian Classics (2001: ISBN 1-55209-590-8). Excerpts from all four were collected in The Book of Grey Owl: Selected Wildlife Stories (1938; 1989 reprint: ISBN 0-7715-9293-0).

Translations

• Ambassadeur des bêtes. Translation by Simonne Ratel. Paris : Hatier-Boivin, 1956?. (Translation of the second part of: Tales of an Empty Cabin.)
• Récits de la cabane abandonnée. Translation by Jeanne-Roche-Mazon. Paris : Éditions contemporaines, 1951. (Translation of the first part of: Tales of an Empty Cabin.)
• Sajo et ses castors. Translated from the English by Charlotte and Marie-Louise Pressoir; illustrations by Pierre Le Guen. Paris : Société nouvelle des éditions G.P., 1963. (Translation of: The Adventures of Sajo and Her Beaver People.)
• Pilgrims of the Wild. Éd. ordinaire. Translation by Jeanne Roche-Mazon. Paris : Éditions contemporaines, 1951.
• Саджо и её бобры. Перевод с английского Аллы Макаровой. Предисловие Михаила Пришвина. Москва: Детгиз, 1958.
• Рассказы опустевшей хижины. Перевод и предисловие Аллы Макаровой. Художник Б.Жутовский. Москва: Молодая гвардия, 1974.

External links and sources

• Grey Owl, from the website for Prince Albert National Park
• Canadian Heroes in Fact and Fiction: Grey Owl, from the Library and Archives Canada website
• Grey Owl at the Internet Movie Database
• Historica Minutes TV Commercial Canadian Heritage