- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Adeline Adaa Webber
Whitehorse, Yukon
Grant of Arms and Supporters, with differences to Cindy Carol Webber, Wendy Diane Webber, William Frederick Webber, Stéphane Aimé Meilleur and Marissa Ravenne Meilleur
March 20, 2025
Vol. VIII, p. 360
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Purpure three butterflies Or embellished, a chief Gules semé of mother-of-pearl buttons proper;
Crest
A woven cedar hat Or its brim embellished Purpure and its crown charged with a raven’s head erased proper;
Supporters
Dexter a raven proper holding in its beak a bezant, sinister a bald eagle, both standing on a snowy base set with prairie crocuses in front of snowy mountains, all proper;
Motto
I GOOAXHX’WAN;
Differenced Arms for Cindy Carol Webber, child of Adeline Adaa Webber
The Arms of Adeline Adaa Webber semé of suns in splendour Argent instead of buttons during her mother’s lifetime; This individual will ultimately inherit the Arms;
Differenced Arms for Wendy Diane Webber, child of Adeline Adaa Webber
The Arms of Adeline Adaa Webber semé of hearts Argent instead of buttons;
Differenced Arms for William Frederick Webber, child of Adeline Adaa Webber
The Arms of Adeline Adaa Webber semé of eighth notes Argent instead of buttons;
Differenced Arms for Stéphane Aimé Meilleur, grandchild of Adeline Adaa Webber
The Arms of Adeline Adaa Webber semé of snowflakes Argent instead of buttons during the lifetime of his mother Wendy Diane Webber;
Differenced Arms for Marissa Ravenne Meilleur, grandchild of Adeline Adaa Webber
The Arms of Adeline Adaa Webber semé of waves Argent instead of buttons;
Symbolism
Arms
Purple is Commissioner Webber’s favourite colour, and red is an important colour in her Tlingit culture. The gold colour represents the Yukon, her home territory, known for its gold resources. The butterfly embodies beauty, and its ability to change is a sign of hope. Together, the butterflies highlight the importance of working towards a common goal, recalling Ms. Webber’s contribution to the Indigenous women of the Yukon and Canada, and to her nation’s council. The rows of mother-of-pearl buttons allude to Tlingit ceremonial button blankets.
Crest
The woven cedar hat is typical of Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples and again represents Ms. Webber’s Tlingit culture. The woven pattern itself alludes to the surname Webber, meaning “weaver” in Middle English. The raven is the totem of the Kùkhhittàn (“Raven Children”) Clan to which Ms. Webber belongs. It is also an iconic bird in Norwegian culture, thus symbolizing her father’s ancestry.
Supporters
With a golden disc in its beak, the raven is presented here as the creator of the sun and moon and as the bringer of light, as is told in Northwest Coast Indigenous oral traditions. The eagle is the totem of the Dakhł’awèdi (“Eagle”) Clan to which Ms. Webber’s spouse, William Webber, belongs. The snowy mountains are characteristic of Yukon landscapes. Ms. Webber’s favourite flower, the crocus, marks the beginning of spring and the return of the sun. As it can grow with little warmth, it symbolizes the resilience of Indigenous peoples.
Motto
This Tlingit phrase means “Do your best.”
Differenced Arms for Cindy Carol Webber, child of Adeline Adaa Webber
The sun symbolizes her love of sunny days, while also referencing her name, Cindy, derived from the Latin word for “light.”
Differenced Arms for Wendy Diane Webber, child of Adeline Adaa Webber
The heart symbolizes her loving care of others and her role as a mother.
Differenced Arms for William Frederick Webber, child of Adeline Adaa Webber
The eighth note symbolizes his passion for music.
Differenced Arms for Stéphane Aimé Meilleur, grandchild of Adeline Adaa Webber
The snowflake symbolizes his love of cold weather.
Differenced Arms for Marissa Ravenne Meilleur, grandchild of Adeline Adaa Webber
The wave alludes to water and her love of swimming. It also references the name Marissa, which is derived from the Latin word for “of the sea.”
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on January 1, 1900, in Volume 0, page 0 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Fabienne Fusade, Miramichi Herald, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Debra MacGarvie
Calligrapher
Yolande Lessard
Recipient Information
Individual
Territorial Commissioner