Little River Ottawa Host 11th Annual Eagle Staff Gathering This Weekend

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Briefs. Discussion »

MANISTEE, MICHIGAN – Eagle staffs are highly regarded among American Indians and can represent several things, depending on their usage. Eagle staffs are carried into powwow circles by color guards who are veterans of the military. Eagle staffs represent tribes at funerals and other significant ceremonies within the community.

October 6-7

An annual eagle staff gathering was brought to the Tribe by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Warrior Society and was one of the goals of the Warrior Society and its late Commander William D. Memberto, who was a Vietnam War veteran.

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is hosting the 11th Annual Eagle Staff Gathering this weekend at the Aki Community Center, located at 2953 Shaw be Quo-Ung Road, Manistee, Michigan 49660.

“The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is honored to host the annual Eagle Staff Gathering and to provide this cultural enrichment opportunity for the community,”

commented Robert Memberto, Director of Commerce for the Tribe and nephew to William Memberto.

“The Warrior Society would like to thank the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little River Casino Resort and Pokagon Band for providing funding to make hosting the event possible,”

he continued.

The two day event brings together eagle staffs from various American Indians in the Great Lakes region. The head Veteran for the 2012 Eagle Staff Gathering is George Martin, Ojibwe. Bucko Teeple, Ojibwe, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The event begins Saturday morning at 7:00 am with a sunrise/pipe ceremony and will conclude by 8:00 pm. Sunday's activities begin with another sunrise/pipe ceremony and will conclude at 12 noon.

Organizers said this event is not a powwow.

posted October 5, 2012 10:30 am edt