Police and First Nations Communities come together for eagle feather harvest

Nanaimo

2023-11-07 07:23 PST

File # 2023

Coming together on the territorial grounds of the Snuneymuxw First Nations, Nanaimo RCMP officers, representatives from the Snuneymuxw and Snaw Naw As First Nations Communities, and BC Conservation Officers, participated in a traditional Eagle feather harvest.

After opening remarks from Thomas George and other First Nations dignitaries and guests, prayers and smudging of each participant was conducted under the watchful eyes of John Thomas of Snuneymuxw First Nations, and Jeff Bob from Snaw Naw As First Nations. The eagles were then blessed and provided a traditional offering of salmon before their feathers were carefully and respectfully harvested for use in First Nations ceremonies and by RCMP officers.

The feathers harvested for the RCMP will be used to assist officers when engaging with Indigenous persons who may need the strength and courage that the eagle feather offers. It will also be used to assist with others who have been subjected to various traumas in order to facilitate communication.

The purpose also reflects the continued efforts of the Nanaimo RCMP to help facilitate and welcome communication, and foster reconciliation with Snuneymuxw and Snaw Naw As peoples, whose traditional territories we continue to live and work on.

The Nanaimo RCMP and BC Conservation Service would like to gratefully thank our First Nations dignitaries for attending and leading the ceremony and for the wisdom and culture they were eager to share with all the participants. Overall it was a very successful harvest and a wonderful sharing of First Nations tradition and culture.

In the coming weeks or months, after the feathers are prepared and ready, the Nanaimo RCMP detachment will hold a ceremony to unveil our Eagle Feather Protocol, and bring these feathers into use.

Huy'ch'qa 

Released by

R/Cst Gary O'Brien

Email: gary.obrien@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: nanaimo.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Follow Us:

bcrcmpnews

@NanaimoRCMP
@bcrcmp

@bcrcmp