Major airline slammed after cabin crew removed Native tribal chief's headdress and stuffed it in a bag in the baggage hold

A Canadian indigenous chief slammed Air Canada after cabin crewmembers removed her sacred native headdress and stuffed it in the cargo hold.

Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, the newly elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said her headdress taken by staff and thrown into storage during a domestic flight on Wednesday.

The tribal chief demanded Air Canada introduces 'a protocol for First Peoples so that we are not harassed for our sacred items', in a Facebook post alongside pictures of the incident. 

Air Canada apologized to Woodhouse Nepinak in response, saying it had contacted her to 'better understand' the situation and maintained its commitment to 'the importance of accommodating customers with items and symbols of sacred cultural significance.' 

Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak (right) the newly elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said her tribal headdress removed by Air Canada staff and thrown into storage during a domestic flight on Wednesday

The indigenous chief shared images of the incident, including one of the headdress being stuffed into a plastic bag by cabin crew 

Woodhouse Nepinak demanded Air Canada introduces 'a protocol for First Peoples so that we are not harassed for our sacred items' 

In her Facebook post about the incident, Woodhouse Nepinak shared images of the colorful headdress being stuffed in a plastic bag inside the aircraft cabin. 

Another image showed runway staff taking the headdress to the cabin's luggage storage, as shocked commenters said: 'They shouldn't even have their hands on it... so disrespectful.' 

Woodhouse Nepinak said in her caption: 'Our headdresses don’t belong in garbage bags by airlines.

'Thank you to the kind Canadians on the plane who stuck up for me and tried to help.' 

The indigenous chief reportedly received the headdress during a ceremony by the Blackfoot Confederacy of the Piikani Nation in Alberta, Canada, reports The Guardian. 

She was gifted the headdress in honor of her work on a settlement over indigenous child welfare, and for her national leadership as the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, which she was elected to in December. 

The Assembly of First Nations reportedly noted that the eagle feathers on the headdress were 'blessed to help support leadership in their travels and challenges.' 

In her Facebook post showing the incident, Woodhouse Nepinak slammed staff and declared that 'our headdresses don’t belong in garbage bags by airlines' 

Woodhouse Nepinak was gifted the headdress in honor of her work on a settlement over indigenous child welfare, and for her national leadership as the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, which she was elected to in December 

The indigenous leader is pictured during her successful campaign for First Nation National Chief in December 2023 

Woodhouse Nepinak was joined in her criticism of the incident by several other Canadian politicians. 

The nation's former justice minister David Lametti said in a statement that the removal of the headdress was 'ridiculous', and was a 'shameful' moment. 

'It can’t simply be placed in checked luggage,' he said. 

'I have been on numerous flights where larger pieces of ordinary luggage were placed safely in the cabin. Their refusal in this case is simply shocking.' 

The Grand Chief of Nishnawabe Aski Nation, Alvin Fiddler, also branded the incident 'shameful.' 

He demanded that Air Canada 'ensure all members of your team are aware and follow all protocols on handling sacred items.'