b'EAGLE STAFFMeet the Eagle Staff Carrier for the Chiefsof OntarioQ&A withPierre DebassigeBY OSCAR BAKER IIIT he Chiefs of Ontariosinto that room, and I thought I was income back and get attached to me in a (COOs) Eagle Staff istrouble because I walked into a room withway when Im carrying that Eagle Staff, so immaculate, adorned witha bunch of nookomis and mishomis. I can feel it. There will be days where [Im] 22 eagle feathers, a hoop,But then they told me, Weve watchedlike, man, this Eagle Staff is really heavy. fur and a beaded medallion with COOsyou grow up. Weve watched you becomeAnd then Im like, hey, I need to go to a logo. It is a symbol of the unity of thethe man you are today, and we want to askceremony with it. Ill go to a ceremony 133 First Nations in Ontario, and Pierreyou if you want to be ORCs [the Ontariolike a sweat lodge with it and Ill take it Debassige was chosen to be its carrier.Regional Chiefs] Eagle Staff carrier. inside and Ill sweat with it, and after that Debassige says an Eagle Staff is aitll be light again. I am truly honoured to Nations standard and is revered by FirstI was like, oh my goodness. I sat therecare and take care of it and be able to go Nations, like others would a nationalfor about five minutes, just taking it all in.different places with that Eagle Staff. flag. When Debassige, from MChigeengI accepted it, but the reason why I took First Nation, was asked to take on thethat time to think is because I know theWhat are some of your responsibilities responsibility of being its carrier, heresponsibility of carrying an Eagle Staff.as an Eagle Staff carrier?knew it was a role he couldnt take lightly.It is a heavy responsibility; when you goPD: My responsibilities with the Eagle Its a big responsibility, but I am trulyto a community thats hurting or is goingStaff [include] when I have it at home, I honoured to take care of it and be ablethrough a rough time, that Eagle Staffput it back together. The teaching that I to go to different places with that eaglewill pick up that energy because its job isgrew up with our Eagle Staff is [that] its staff, he says. to come and heal and take some of thata living being, a spirit in itself. So when He recently sat down with thehurt. And sometimes that heaviness willIm at home with it, when I eat, it eats Advocate and talked about his role as the Eagle Staff carrier. The following has been edited for length and clarity.What was it like to be chosen to be the Eagle Staff carrier?Pierre Debassige: I will say I was scared because I know the responsibility that comes with those staffs and with all the teachings, and how to walk in a good way with it. So when I was asked, it was at a Chiefs of Ontario assembly in Thunder Bay, and I was pulled into the room with the Knowledge Keepers, an advisory council to the Chiefs. I walked 30l I ssue2 2025/26C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'