Fourteen eagle feathers have been gifted to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, giving people the option to hold one while swearing an oath or giving testimony. Eagle feathers hold cultural significance in many Indigenous communities and can represent truth and honesty. The feathers were gifted to the court by Cecile Brass, a sister of Provincial Court Judge Michelle R. Brass after she received them from Bob Mills, former Chief of the Skidegate Band on Haida Gwaii. The gift was made in honour of Gregory Brass, Cecile and Michelle’s father who died on Jan. 2, 2026. “That cultural safety and representation is very important for a person to feel that they can speak, and have people maybe understand who they are on some level,” said Cecile Brass. Her father Gregory Brass spent years working in the justice system, including in alternative measures and meditation. He also served as a member of the RCMP, posted to Fort Qu’Appelle Detachment. “He really did believe that we needed to be represented better in those systems. To feel that we understood it better,” said Cecile. Michelle R. Brass has served as a provincial court judge in Regina for two years and says having the feathers available could help people feel more comfortable in the courtroom. “It is very inclusive of our traditions. It may also put individuals more at ease. Recognizing their own traditions are being now being recognized as well,” said Michelle. She said her interest in law was influenced by her father’s work as an RCMP officer, and believes he would have been proud to see the feathers gifted in his name, but prouder of the impact he had on his children. “All of his hard work of being a parent who encouraged us to work or be educated,” said Michelle. “For him I think it’s watching the result of his own work. I think he would be proud of that.” There had previously been concerns about keeping eagle feathers permanently available in courtrooms, including how they would be maintained, stored and handled. Each of the 14 feathers now has its own box and comes with a spray that can be used to cleanse the feather following each use. Cecile said the addition reflects years of work by advocates seeking to make the justice system more inclusive. “There are many people who are committed to improving systems for all that have to partake in them. I think that representation is the best way to do that,” she said. The Provincial Court of Saskatchewan recognizes the cultural importance of the eagle feathers, and is committed to ensuring they are treated with the utmost respect and care. With files from Caitlin Brezinski
