Last year, The Albertan Queer Affirmation Review identified the importance of empowering Queer story tellers. Through its ways, Treaty guarantees that Two Spirit folks & others should be able to live in our cities and schools. Queer people have the grand joy that, in being true to ourselves, we make room for & affirm Treaty. The same Treaty that allows us to be our own true selves lets others do the same. Through this, Queer spaces become magic spaces, and stories maintain that magic. By grace and good fortune, we've raised enough to gather Queer writers and promote their stories. Today's story does that in its own way; what follows comes from being Queer in Treaty 7.
In the heart of Calgary's many vibrant Queer communities lies a tale and place that intertwines camaraderie resilience and enduring spirit they call this kind of place simply as, “The Eagle.”
Now, we took the affirmation review, raised funds, put things in motion, and hosted the first of three salons. Food was cooked, guests arrived, stories were told. Stories of first kisses, and of transitions, and of belonging. But stories too of culture, from Buddhism to Hebrides to gender and Queerness and to this place. And amongst it all, “The Eagle,” kept popping up.
As stories unfolded and more stories after that, “The Eagle,” kept popping up. Not the majestic bird of prey, nor the NASA modules, nor the radio voice of the Foothills, but rather a symbol of community, of acceptance, and over all good times.
With each mention of The Eagle, smiles illuminated faces and a sense of nostalgia filled the room. It soon became clear that The Eagle held a special place in the hearts of many; serving as a sanctuary for those seeking space for themselves as themselves.
But what exactly was The Eagle?
For those not fully in the know, including myself, it remained a bit of a mystery, a name whispered in hushed tones, waiting to be unraveled.
What was known, and became known, and I think may always be known is that the Eagle is a bar, and as a bar the name is often associated with traditionally masculine, leather, biker, sports, meet-up kind of spots.
While I do know those words, they are far from my shire of the rainbow. So little experience nor era overlapped, leaving me in a total eclipse of understanding all the smiles and nostalgia as the name came up. I was never, nor claimed to be, a gay; so maybe I was off the hook for not having it in my rainbow memory bank.
But then the lesbians and women-adjacent folks spoke up,
“What a great place”
“Great bunch of guys”
“Love all that leather”
Okay, The Eagle was far from my own knowledge, but its place in the hearts of others meant I could benefit from knowing a bit more.
But as I would find out, the Eagle wasn’t too far from my own nostalgia and no doubt overlapped in some many ways. So perhaps, more of a partial eclipse. Every time we’d take the car to the old downtown library, or the bus or the train, we’d pass or park right by the Eagle. Its all different or gone now, the space made anew, with a new parking lot, a new library, and more. Most of all of the old part of that Calgary gone now.
The Eagle was in the Max Block, and over the years that block underwent various transformations of its own. From housing the Maple Hotel to later becoming known as the Eagle Block in the 1990s. It was within those historic walls that the Calgary Eagle Bar found its home, carving out a space for individuals to embrace their identities and celebrate their community.
The history of the Eagle and the block and the chat brought about a sense of reverence to the room. A recognition of the legacy left behind by those who came before us, those who’d laugh at a good memory at the Eagle, and those who are no longer here to share those laughs.
Amidst the nostalgia, there lingered a sense of loss; a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of change, something we can be more aware of than we want to be. In 2002, after a decade in business the Eagle Calgary closed its doors for the final time marking the end of an era. Its legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of those who were fortunate enough to call it home and I think it can continue so through story and through talking about those memories.
As the night drew on and to a close, as the echoes of laughter faded into the distance, we were left with a profound sense of gratitude - Gratitude for the stories shared, the connections forged, and the enduring spirit of community that binds us together. As we look to that future, we are reminded of the importance of entrenching ourselves in our shared histories, like the Eagle, like stories, like this place.
But don’t take my word for it!
Reflect on your own takeaways and tell people.
Here, there, anywhere.
The Queer in Treaty 7 Podcast is produced here in Treaty 7 territory, and is a call to action from The Albertan Queer Affirmation Review; an ongoing work by community curated by Cupola Policy & Strategy. You can find more, read more, and hear more through this substack, and more on the policy science behind it all at CupolaStrategy.com
Thank you for sharing your time, and for entrenching the Treaty Queer.
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