Prior to last week, the staff was last publicly seen commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of 1885 (Submitted photo/Floyd Patrick Favel)

By Lane Hoffart

Historical moment for Poundmaker Cree Nation

Artifact staff honoured at Poundmaker Powwow

Aug 21, 2025 | 2:28 PM

Poundmaker Cree Nation had a special cultural symbol present at their powwow last week: a staff from the late 1800’s that was present at the Battle of 1885 and has not been seen publicly since 1935.

The staff was donated to Floyd Patrick Favel, curator for the Poundmaker Museum and Gallery, in 2023 by Deborah George of Vancouver, who had possessed the staff since 2006.

George was inspired to reach out to Poundmaker Cree Nation in 2019 after the exoneration of Chief Poundmaker made national news and put the First Nations community in the limelight.

“She had the staff, that was initially bought in the Battleford area. So, in her search she came across our name, the Poundmaker Museum, so she approached the museum and asked if we would be interested to keep it,” said Favel.

Josh Atcheynum of Sweetgrass First Nation carried the staff at the first grand entry on Aug. 12 (Submitted photo/Floyd Patrick Favel)

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The staff is decorated with now-obsolete cloth ribbons, which were traded by the Hudson’s Bay Company, as well as eagle feathers which are sacred in Cree culture.

“To have one feather is a high badge of honour. It’s a great deed because the eagle is highly esteemed because it’s the bird gifted with being able to carry messages to the Great Spirit. That’s the eagle’s gift. And so, to have eagle feathers on a staff, not just one, but many, it becomes a powerful cultural symbol.”

The staff’s appearance at Poundmaker Powwow was a landmark moment for all First Nations who were in its presence.

“For us, artifacts, especially eagle stuff, they’re meant to be used. They’re meant to be danced in public,” Favel said, while also commenting about the many remarks the staff received due to its age. “It doesn’t look like a contemporary eagle staff. This one looks ancient.”

Poundmaker Cree Nation has started a new chapter in the legacy of the staff by using it at their Powwow and will continue to use it during sacred ceremonies.

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land.hoffart@pattisonmedia.com