Many Indigenous cultures believe the eagle is sacred because it flies closest to the Creator. It symbolizes respect, honour, strength, courage and wisdom.
In Saskatchewan, its feathers also symbolize a step forward, a new chapter in the ongoing story of Reconciliation. In the past year, many RCMP detachments became keepers of eagle feathers to provide victims, witnesses, suspects and police officers with a spiritually-significant option to swear legal oaths on, or to hold for comfort.
"We continue to work to strengthen our relationships with Indigenous people and communities in Saskatchewan," says Insp. Honey Dwyer, of the Saskatchewan RCMP's Indigenous Policing Services (IPS). "Delivering culturally aware police services provides the foundation needed to do this. The eagle feathers are a way we are incorporating Indigenous culture and spirituality into our services, right at the detachment level."
A first for Saskatchewan RCMP
Last spring, 40 eagle feathers from the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment were prepared by Elder Howard Walker for the Eagle Feather Handover Ceremony held June 21 at the Saskatchewan RCMP Headquarters in Regina. The ceremony was attended by Elder Howard, His Honour the Honourable Russ Mirasty, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan RCMP's Commanding Officer, three District Officers and other dignitaries.
From there, the feathers, in red cases for safe storage, were handed over to detachments. Officers were encouraged to connect with local Elders to have the feather blessed or smudged and to find a local artisan to bead the end of their feather.
Blessings organized
Some detachments partnered with Indigenous communities to hold ceremonies as they blessed or smudged the feathers. In October 2020, Southey RCMP was the first detachment in the province to hold a handover ceremony. Elder Murray Ironchild of Piapot First Nation smudged the feather, and Chief Mark Fox blessed it.
The latest handover ceremony took place on Thunderchild First Nation in April 2021, where Turtleford/Glaslyn RCMP, Chief James Snakeskin and community leaders came together for a ceremony to bless the feather and a chance to celebrate the partnership they've built over the years.
Turtleford/Glaslyn RCMP Cpl. Dwight Sacrey met with Chief Snakeskin to discuss the feather when the detachment received it, and asked for guidance on its blessing. "He said, we're (Thunderchild First Nation) all in for this," he explains. "We want to make this a very special event."
Sacrey says they organized a beautiful feast and ceremony, where he and four officers were presented with star blankets, a gift of honour.
Sharing culture
Many connections were built as detachments arranged to have the ends of their eagle feathers beaded. In some cases, RCMP officers worked with a local artisan. Turtleford/Glaslyn RCMP, for example, had their feather beaded in RCMP colours of red, blue and yellow. In a couple of other cases, Indigenous members shared their culture and work with their detachments, beading the eagle feather themselves.
Meadow Lake Detachment Cst. Liz Cook, who grew up in Stanley Mission and learned to bead when she was just young, beaded the Meadow Lake RCMP's feather in the colours of the Medicine Wheel.
Having an eagle feather in the detachment is significant, since it's a step toward the RCMP's Reconciliation with Indigenous people, she says. "I think it's one of the major steps I've seen the RCMP taking to incorporate Aboriginal culture."
Building new, strong bridges
Saskatchewan RCMP plans to provide more detachments with an eagle feather in the future. In the spirit of Reconciliation, the RCMP has committed to using the eagle feather in support of numerous calls to action recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Having feathers at detachments also supports the RCMP's commitment to creating a more inclusive and relevant justice system for Indigenous people.
At the same time, this initiative is building RCMP officers' and employees' understanding and respect of Indigenous culture, and building important and strong bridges between police and communities.
"It's very inspiring to see the ways the eagle feathers have brought people together," says Insp. Dwyer. "This is a wonderful opportunity to enhance the relationships between RCMP and Indigenous communities throughout Saskatchewan."