MMIWG and MMIMB Eagle Staff carrier pens heartfelt letter
Submitted by John Fox
As Anishnawbeh Nina from the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, I carry a sacred Eagle Staff and through this letter, I can educate on the meaning, purpose and the responsibility of this great undertaking.
The vision of this Eagle Staff came to me two years after the passing of my daughter Cheyenne. Cheyenne was murdered in Toronto on April 25, 2013. In our minds, the Toronto police failed to respond to several 911 calls made by Cheyenne and others before my daughter fell to her death from a 24-story condo.
As a family, we took legal action—an action designed to seek answers to rectify what could have been done better to have curtailed Cheyenne’s tragic end. This September 2018 will be four years since we launched our action.
The Vision of the MMIWG MMIMB Eagle Staff
The Eagle Staff centerpiece is made of cedar, the turtle stand is made of cedar and all made on Manitoulin Island. The cedar represents the women and the turtle represents our mother. Inside the turtle it nourishes and provides everything for the Nations.
The moose antler is the total structure of the Eagle Staff and its vision, it has a design of a child, a young girl, a smudge bowl, the medicines and the top of the staff the girl forms into an eagle. The sweet grass of the staff represents gentleness, kindness and the care and loving attributes of our women.
It is a magnificent design.
Lastly, the feathers that are on the staff are from family members of the Missing and Murdered Women and Girls.
The staff can travel to each First Nation and has done so. This time, the Eagle Staff is traveling to Thunder Bay, ON, for a traditional gathering. At times, women can request to carry the Eagle Staff through tobacco offering and a gift which I always accommodate. The women find it an honor to carry the sacred staff and their strong connection to this sacred item.
As an Anishnawbeh Nina, I take the responsibility of looking after this staff honorably with feasting, sharing, offerings and song. To this end, I also respect in the highest regard the other sacred Eagle Staffs whom share the sacred space with me. Be it socials, pow wows or ceremony.
To us, it is an honor to dance for the spirits who have gone on. We will never forget them. RIP MMIWG MMIMBs.
John Fox, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve, Manitoulin Island.