Elder calls the gift of an eagle staff to Canada a "sign of surrender"

Elders concerned about the gifting of an eagle staff to Canada's permanent representative to the United Nations in September want it returned.

The Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde presented the eagle staff to Marc-Andre Blanchard at the UN headquarters in New York to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

But some elders on the national executive council at the AFN and other grassroots elders say Bellegarde made a mistake by giving the honour of an eagle staff to Canada.

Gift a 'sign of surrender'  

"Nobody gave any permission to anybody to give an eagle staff," said Samson Cree Nation Elder Cecil Napoose, who attended a meeting of elders to discuss the issue in Portage la Prairie, Man. on October 21.

Napoose believes the eagle staff hasn't been earned by Canada given the ongoing inequalities faced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada, as well as Treaties not being honoured.

"By handing an eagle staff over to the Government of Canada, it's a sign of surrender."

Napoose said said the staff "is a sacred object … the elders should've been consulted." 

Blanchard also provided proper protocol presentation of tobacco, a prayer cloth and sweet grass to the master carver of the staff, James Hart from the Haida Nation.

Hart said he created the eagle staff with respect and good intentions. He incorporated 60 eagle features, carvings of animals including the eagle, wolf, bear, killer whale and raven as well as traditional Cree beading to represent the various Indigenous nations across Canada.

"There's a lot of meaning behind all that," he said. "There's a lot of depth to it. None of it is taken lightly."

With input from Grand Chief Ed John, the former North American Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and Bellegarde, Tremblay writes that the finished eagle staff was presented with proper protocols and ceremonies.

Blanchard was educated about the meaning and spirituality of the eagle staff by Bellegarde and agreed to abide by ceremonial rituals that accompany it.

'I've already met with our AFN elders, I've met with them three times. I've addressed the issue."- AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde

Hart doesn't think it should be repatriated, saying that it reminds Canada about Indigenous issues at the UN and should be encouraged.

The AFN stated, "The Eagle Staff is in the Ambassador's office to impart to world leaders and other dignitaries the importance of Indigenous Peoples within the United Nations, to keep their mind, energy and spirit behind our work and work towards First Nations full participation at the United Nations, throughout the United Nations system."

Elders upset that Bellegarde 'didn't show up'

Napoose said he and other elders who attended the October 21 meeting in Manitoba were upset that Bellegarde didn't show up to talk about the issue.

"[Bellegarde] didn't show up. He's running because he knows he's done something wrong."

The AFN responded to an email from CBC inquiring about Bellegarde's attendance at the meeting. An AFN spokesperson said that Bellegarde sent AFN regional chief for Manitoba, Kevin Hart in his place.

Hart said he won't comment on the meeting until he's had the opportunity to relay the information to elders and AFN executives who weren't in attendance.

Meanwhile, Bellegarde said he's already dealt with the issue.

"I've already met with our AFN elders, I've met with them three times. I've addressed the issue," he said during a telephone interview with CBC last week.

"One of the elders said that [the eagle staff] is already doing its work," Bellegarde added, referencing prime minister Justin Trudeau's speech to the UN about Canada's relationship with Indigenous people. 

"They were impressed by that, it's having a spiritual impact. It's working. That where it rests right now."