Saskatchewan judge donates eagle feathers to make court oaths more inclusive

During a provincial court session near Estevan, Judge Michelle Brass observed that Indigenous witnesses were forced to bring personal eagle feathers because the courthouse provided only Bibles or other religious books for oaths. Recognizing the gap, she kept a few feathers, along with sweetgrass and sage, in her car and later, with her sister Cecile Brass, donated a total of 14 eagle feathers to the Courts of Saskatchewan.

The feathers were gifted by Bob Mills, former chief of the Skidegate Band, in memory of Brass’s late father. Thirteen courthouses across the province will each house an eagle feather for use during testimony, offering an alternative to traditional texts. Brass explained that any ceremonial object—feather, Bible, Qur'an, or Torah—helps a witness affirm truthfulness. Indigenous leaders such as Dorthea Swiftwolfe and Audrey Armstrong praised the initiative but noted that deeper systemic changes are still needed for true reconciliation.