Wampum Belt gifted in celebration of Indigenous culture and relationship

Wampum Belt gifted in celebration of Indigenous culture and relationship

Untitled Document

June 22, 2026 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time: 1:55

By Major Charles Paquin, CAFCYBERCOM Public Affairs

On May 27, Canadian Forces Station Leitrim marked a meaningful moment in its history when Master Corporal (MCpl) Thomas Timmerman, an Indigenous member of the Canadian Armed Forces, gifted a Wampum Belt to the Station during a ceremony celebrating Indigenous culture, service, and relationship.

Hosted by Captain Antin Sloboda, Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Leitrim's Chaplain, the event brought together members of the Station, representatives of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group, Indigenous Elders and guests, and the CFS Leitrim Command Team. The ceremony opened with an acknowledgement that CFS Leitrim stands on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People.

Each June, the Canadian Armed Forces honours the contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. At CFS Leitrim, this year's observance centred on the Wampum Belt: a sacred living document traditionally woven from shell beads and used to record history, laws, treaties, alliances, and relationships.

The ceremony included smudging, songs, teachings on Wampum, the presentation of the Belt, and a traditional meal featuring Three Sisters' Soup and Indian tacos with venison.

During the ceremony, Danka Brewer, whose Indigenous name is White Bear Woman and who is referred to as the "Grandmother of the Station," offered a teaching on the history and significance of Wampum. She explained that traditional Wampum beads were made from quahog shell and that belts served as physical and visual representations of agreements between nations. She also spoke about Wampum as a reminder of responsibility, reciprocity, and the need to care for the land and its resources for future generations.

MCpl Timmerman, whose Indigenous name is White Bear with Retractable Claws, commissioned the Belt close to 20 years ago and presented it to Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) Hans La Pierre, Commanding Officer of CFS Leitrim, on behalf of the Station. In explaining the gift, MCpl Timmerman reflected on the principle that "a gift is always a gift" and that receiving and giving are connected through respect and relationship.

For LCol La Pierre, accepting the belt on behalf of CFS Leitrim was both an honour and a responsibility. He said it would be proudly displayed as a "living contract" of MCpl Timmerman's time at the Station.

The Belt's imagery tells a story of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. Its design includes Métis sashes wrapped around Turtle Island, an inuksuk, a cross, and a pipe, symbolizing people coming together in spirit as one voice. The three central symbols are drawn from the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group logo, representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across the country.

For CFS Leitrim, the gift marks a significant and possibly historic first. It will serve as a visible reminder of Indigenous service, living history, and the ongoing importance of good-minded relationships between the Canadian Armed Forces and Indigenous peoples.