I can’t say for sure how long it took me to finish this; the first photo I can find of it is from 2020 when only the centre portion was complete. I purchased the pattern before Michael’s stores were open in the West; I think it came from Crafts Canada which doesn’t appear to exist any longer. It wasn’t until we purchased the Texada studio that I got serious about stitching it.

When I first bought the pattern I looked forward to making it. After a few months of stitching I began to wonder whether it was appropriate for me, who doesn’t share the First Nations culture, to be making it at all. I had a few other patterns with Native designs and I sold them on one of the Facebook groups I belong to.

I spent most of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation working on the Thunderbird. Now that it is finished I think of the project as honouring our First Nations. I will proudly hang it next to the Maple Leaf I finished for Canada’s 150th.