Eels hold a profound place in human history and mythology, symbolizing mystery, transformation, and ecological balance across cultures. For Indigenous communities like the Mi’kmaq and Columbia River Tribes, eels and lampreys are: food, they are used in rituals and as medicine and they exist as part of intergenerational knowledge.
When observing them, I marvel at their sinuous movements, camouflage abilities and their shy and sensitive natures; they represent a kind of primal nocturnal intelligence, more attuned to darkness than the light. This requires their use of extraordinary sensory organs to navigate their environment; some engage electromagnetism for electro-location within murky waters.
If one is still and patient in their presence, the reward is a curious approach; they undulate upwards through the water… a gentle greeting. Their mouths seem to emit simple phrases, a desire to connect and understand their environs. Here, I imagine a trio of them sending out frequencies through the waters; emitting the mysteries of what it means to more comfortable in the nocturnal realm. Their heart’s desire to be recognized as a vital part of a complex watery ecosystem.
