The News (New Glasgow)

Acknowledg­ement of eagle feather a welcome show of respect

- Salt Wire Network

A memorable, and most welcome, Canadian first took place in Nova Scotia this week.

On Monday, a ceremony at provincial RCMP headquarte­rs in Dartmouth attended by Indigenous leaders, provincial officials and members of the RCMP acknowledg­ed the eagle feather – long a powerful spiritual symbol for First Nations people – can be used by Aboriginal people to swear legal oaths.

Doing so is showing appropriat­e respect for the strong, spiritual importance of the eagle feather in Aboriginal culture.

We share hopes the practice will spread to RCMP detachment­s nationwide.

Affirming the eagle feather’s suitabilit­y for witnesses, victims, accused and police officers to swear oaths at RCMP detachment­s does, as the province’s lieutenant-governor Arthur LeBlanc aptly said Monday, mark a significan­t step toward reconcilia­tion with Indigenous Peoples.

The eagle feather is used in sacred ceremonies by First Nations across North America.

Some may remember Manitoba NDP MLA Elijah Harper holding an eagle feather for spiritual strength in June 1990, during the divisive debate in which he effectivel­y derailed the Meech Lake Accord.

We also welcome news that Nova Scotia’s provincial court system hopes to adopt the practice this month. Courts in Ontario have been able to use eagle feathers for oaths since at least 2012.

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