DULUTH — A group of American Indians held a spiritual ceremony to replant an eagle feather staff outside the Duluth Civic Center after it was vandalized for a third time.

The ceremony Monday included prayer and the burning of sage and cedar. The staff is made of ironwood with eagle feathers and ribbons tied to the top. It is considered a flag to the Anishinaabe people and was planted during a rally in November of 2011.

Duluth American Indian Commission member Gwiiwizens Ricky DeFoe said the first time the staff was desecrated was shortly after it was planted. Last fall it was broken in half. And most recently, the staff was pulled from the ground and tossed in some bushes.

DeFoe said he wonders why the staff would be offensive to someone.