Eagle feather held aloft

Page 6

It's hard to figure what was going on in a security guard's imagination when he considered an eagle feather a "potentially dangerous weapon."

It's an incident that the security guards at the House of Commons would rather forget. And, despite the round of apologies from the guard, the Speaker of the House and the Minister of Indian Affairs, the fact that a young Mi'kmaw woman was barred from entering the House of Commons because she carried an eagle feather is still a cause for concern.

Melissa Labrador, 17, from Caledonia, N.S., has accepted the apologies but wants to make sure this situation doesn't happen again. We couldn't agree more.

Saying sorry is fine but it might be time to enroll all people who work on Parliament Hill in cross-cultural sensitivity classes, because this incident shouldn't have happened in the first place. Eagle feathers are sacred objects to Aboriginal people and should be given the kind of respect accorded other sacred objects.

Why did the guard not know this?

Would the guard consider a Bible a dangerous weapon? Probably not, but using his logic it certainly could do a lot more physical damage than a feather if hurled onto the unsuspecting heads of the Members of Parliament the guard was so intent on protecting. We can't recall the last time we've heard of anyone being assaulted with a feather, neither can we figure out how anyone would be.

It's frightening to think of the guard's reaction if a "heavily armed" powwow dancer came to perform at the House of Commons.

There is, however, a bright side to this whole sorry mess. Ms. Labrador refused to conceal or give up her eagle feather. It meant more to her than entering the House of Commons and this is the kind of strength in, and devotion to, Aboriginal culture that will ensure the traditions of the people will survive in future generations. Ms. Labrador proved there is nothing about being Aboriginal to be ashamed of, even if ignorant people try to make you feel that way.