The Eagle's Metis Sash

On 6 November 2022, All Saints Sunday, the Royal Canadian College of Organists Winnipeg Centre had its annual In Memoriam Evening Prayer liturgy at Holy Trinity. One of the organizers of the liturgy was the Rev. Tanis Kolisnyk, an organist, a deacon, a Metis woman, and the Coordinator of the Aboriginal Student Services Centre at the University of Winnipeg.

In the days before the RCCO event, Tanis received a package in the mail. No return address, no card. Just a beautiful Metis sash. Tanis had been thinking and praying about what kind of gift might be good to give Holy Trinity and when this mysterious sash arrived at her home, she knew she had been given the right gift.

The sash was presented to the parish quietly, before the liturgy on Sunday evening began, and draped over the wings of the eagle on the lectern. It is a beautiful symbol of friendship and an honour to be able to display it in our church.