More than 30 eagle staffs gather at Sault Ste. Marie

The eagle staff from Michipicoten First Nation (shown) stood proud over the weekend at Niiganaagiizhik Ceremonial Building in Sault, Michigan.

The staff, considered the equivalent of a national flag in Anishinaabek circles, was one of more than 30 brought together at an event organized by Sault College’s native education and training department and the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Carefully crafted with eagle feathers and other materials, eagle staffs played an important role in early Anishinabe tradition but, together with native languages, fell into disuse as the native population was assimilated into the white man's culture.

Last year, eagle staffs were brought from across Ontario and Michigan to an historic gathering at Sault College. To review SooToday.com's coverage from last year's event, please click on the following links:

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Participants in this year's gathering in Sault, Michigan included Sault, Ontario elders Archie Francis and Peter Migwans and others.

To see a SooToday.com Big Picture of the staff-bearers, please click here. (Remember to use your browser's scroll buttons to view the entire image.)