Winnipeg Police Embrace Eagle Feathers for Statements

Winnipeg police are incorporating culturally appropriate practices into their service by offering victims, witnesses, and officers the option to use an eagle feather for statements instead of a Bible. This significant step is part of a broader effort by Police Chief Gene Bowers to weave reconciliation with Indigenous communities into the fabric of the service.

Eagle feathers hold deep spiritual significance in many Indigenous cultures, symbolizing a connection to the Creator and representing honesty, truth, and integrity. The feathers, gifted by Elder Mike Calder, have undergone traditional preparations and are accompanied by symbolic beadwork representing the medicine wheel colours. These sacred items are now available at all four district police stations.

This initiative was born from an internal working group of Indigenous officers focused on reducing barriers and enhancing communication within the police service. Sheila North, Indigenous relations adviser, expressed pride in the service's genuine effort to make Indigenous people feel validated, emphasizing that the feathers serve as a powerful reminder of history, ancestors, and responsibility on the path of reconciliation.