(Ottawa) The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, wrote on social media Thursday that she had to remove her traditional headdress on an Air Canada plane, and that the ceremonial article, in its protective box, was then placed in a trash bag.
Mme Woodhouse Nepinak maintains that this incident shocked her and that Air Canada should have a protocol to welcome Indigenous people so that they are not “harassed” when they transport sacred articles.
The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Gary Anandasangaree, said he was “outraged” by this incident and is asking Air Canada to do what is necessary to remedy the situation.
But he noted that this is not the first time ceremonial items have been “inappropriately handled.”
In media reports Thursday, Air Canada said it was reviewing its policies in light of the incident and had contacted Mme Woodhouse Nepinak to apologize to him.