was presented to the staff of Mount Sinai Hospital by
Joseph Maps, President and CEO
in appreciation for their extraordinary efforts during the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Symptom (SARS) out break.
The eagle - a symbol of strength and courage - personified our staff during this time..
SARS staff appreciation week
April 26 to 30, 2004
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"Guiding Gracefully"

by Eric Martin - Six Nations Artist

Native people lived in spiritual harmony with the natural world.  They believed everything possessed a soul and spirit.  Within this piece we see the face of the people, being protected by the spirit of life, the Great Spirit that blows through all of our lives.  The round curves and movement symbolize the spirit.  We are able to connect with the natural rhythms of life and the earth's creative powers.  The piece is rounded and the open circular feeling represents the life cycle, or the cyclical nature of all the Earth.  As day turns into the night, the seasons roll one into the other, the winds blow from many directions - all of our life is a circle.  Notice the eagle wrapping himself around the image of the people.  The eagle is a very sacred entity for it flies closest to the Creator and carries our thoughts and prayers to the Skyworld on its' wings.  To the Iroquois it is known as the Guardian Eagle for it sits atop of the Great Tree of Life watching over the people and the mother earth with its powerful sight.  The eagle screams warning to indicate that danger is near.  One must always listen to the sound of the eagle in our own lives.  When we teach our young, we teach them to have the qualities of the great eagle - clear vision, a warning cry for others, and a protective wing to lift up those around us.  The eagle is considered the true protector of the people - in both the physical and spiritual sense - for the eagle protects our future, our dreams, our passions.
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