Eagle Feather Blessing Ceremony

Today, our Service is honoured to be gifted 15 Eagle Feathers from the Kainai Nation, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, and Métis artist Bob Davis in a traditional Blackfoot ceremony. These feathers were acquired humanely and in a culturally sensitive manner and have been intricately beaded by Indigenous artists. After receiving our first Eagle Feather in 2022, the additional feathers available for our Service marks another significant step in our journey towards Truth and Reconciliation. We now have enough feathers to ensure all CPS facilities and district offices are equipped with an Eagle Feather. These feathers can be used for the swearing-in of new officers, official appointments, and the swearing of oaths for affidavits, statements, or other legal documents. The inclusion of the Eagle feather among our religious and cultural options for officers and the community highlights our ongoing commitment to addressing the diverse cultural needs of all Calgarians.

We are grateful to receive teachings that will allow us to integrate Indigenous ceremonial practices into our major events, transforming our traditions to be more inclusive of our current membership, new recruits, and the Indigenous communities we serve.

The Eagle Feathers will be housed in cedar wood boxes crafted by Métis artist, Bob Davis. The boxes feature the Blackfoot symbol for the CPS, the CPS crest, and are lined inside with the CPS uniform material, sewn by Michelle Whitney from Tsuut'ina Nation.

Elder Clarence Wolfleg will be at the ceremony to bless the Eagle Feathers and to share his wisdom and experiences.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the local Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers from Treaty 7 for their guidance and support.

The Eagle Feather Blessing ceremony signifies our shared journey on a path to Truth and Reconciliation. It is a testament to our commitment to being equal partners and honouring one another’s traditional ways.