National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak places her papers on the podium at the start of a news conference on Parliament Hill, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Ottawa. The minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to "make things right" with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations whose headdress was removed from a flight's cabin. THE CANADIAN PRESS
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Air Canada's handling of Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak's headdress removal from a plane cabin. Woodhouse Nepinak expressed distress, prompting Trudeau to label the incident "unacceptable."
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree also criticized the airline's actions, urging Air Canada to rectify the situation. The airline issued an apology and pledged to review its policies to prevent similar incidents, acknowledging the cultural significance of such items.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh voiced support for Woodhouse Nepinak's call for policy changes, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity in airline procedures.
