Eagle feather symbol of hope

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This article was published 05/06/2015 (3787 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The leader of an aboriginal spiritual charity presented an eagle feather to the leader of the Roman Catholic diocese of Winnipeg Thursday to symbolize a new era of reconciliation.

The emotional moment preceded a formal cheque presentation at the diocese’s main office on Pembina Highway that will help fund education about Indian residential schools.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Winnipeg hosted the event, to hand a $60,000 cheque to Returning to Spirit, an indigenous spiritual charity that works closely with the diocese’s inner-city aboriginal parish.

Minutes before the cheque presentation, Lisa Raven, executive director of Returning to Spirit, turned to Rev. François Paradis, a priest at St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and said “I passed by my medicine bundle this morning and saw this eagle feather.

“I’ve fasted with it for four years to ask for reconciliation, and I didn’t want to give it up but as soon as I thought it, I knew I had to give this feather away today.” A medicine bundle is a term used to describe spiritual items used in indigenous ceremonies.

When Archbishop Richard Gagnon entered the room, that’s exactly what Raven did, giving the feather to the archbishop in a presentation that was heavy with symbolism. Eagle feathers represent the highest honour that can be bestowed within indigenous spiritual traditions.

The dual presentation was held the same week the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report to stress the urgency of restoring awareness and equality to relations between the country’s indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.

Both the archbishop and the agency executive director called the ceremony a “symbolic” act.

In an email comment afterward, the archbishop formally acknowledged the honour and its intent: to give life to ongoing reconciliation efforts.

“Lisa Raven presented the feather to me as a sign of gratitude and respect for giving Returning to the Spirit a prominent place in our centennial celebration. It was not so much about the monies that were raised, which are designated for the work of RTS, but about the importance shown towards the work of reconciliation between aboriginals and non-aboriginals and how the centennial raised up this issue in a very public way for members of the church,” Gagnon said.

The funds were collected in a centennial mass the diocese celebrated with 13,000 parishioners May 3 at the MTS Centre.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca