"The Haida people and peregrine falcons share some commonalties. The Haida make their living from the land and sea. The ruins of the historic village of Ninstints in the Queen Charlotte Islands are located on the shore between the forest and the water. Peregrine falcons hunt the forest birds and thesea bird colonies.
Haida totems are noted for several stylistic elements, including large eyes. Both the Haida nation and the peregrine are coming back from the brink of extinction-the haida from measels and smallpox and the peregrine from pesticides. I painted a peregrine perched on the crosspiece of a mortuary pole- eye to eye with the totems and the past,present and the future."