Callling the Eagle

According to the Buryat of Siberia, in the beginning there were only gods in the west and evil spirits in the east. The gods created man and he lived happily until disease came. To combat disease, the gods decided people needed shamans and so they sent the eagle to help. Upon landing on earth, he found a sleeping woman and mated with her. Their child was the "first shaman," who had the ability to work in this world and fly on spiritual wings to all others. (J. Curtin, A Journey to Southern Siberia)