Gift of Indigenous headdress to Pope met with shock by residential school survivor

The long-anticipated apology from Pope Francis left many with mixed emotions Monday.

Following his apology for the harms done to Indigenous People in Canada’s residential school system – and the role the Catholic Church played in that system – a feathered headdress was gifted to the Pope on the public stage in Maskwacis, Alta.

Chief Wilton Littlechild, a residential school survivor, walked up the stairs holding the traditional headdress – a collection of soft white feathers fastened in place by a colorful, beaded headband.

As Littlechild gently placed it on the Pope’s head, feathers cascaded down the sides of his face and applause broke out.

But not everyone is applauding Littlechild’s gesture towards Pope Francis.

Residential school survivor Susan Caribou was stunned by the decision to gift the Pope a traditional headdress – a move incongruous with the past transgressions at church-run schools that Francis had just apologized for.

“A lot of people are shocked that they actually gave him that headdress,” said Caribou. “He didn’t deserve that headdress. You earn a headdress.”

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Headdresses historically are a symbol of respect, worn by Native American war chiefs and warriors. For many tribes, for example, each feather placed on a headdress has significance and had to be earned through an act of compassion or bravery.

More than 150,000 Indigenous children in Canada were forced to attend government-funded schools in the 19th century until the 1970s in an effort to isolate them from the influence of their homes and culture.

Some social media reaction online echoed Caribou’s feelings.

“This is wrong. Giving an okimaw astotin (headdress) to the leader of an institution that enacted Genocide on our Peoples is wrong,” tweeted James Makokis.

“Immediately felt sick seeing the Pope in a headdress,” wrote another on Twitter.

“I don’t know how I feel about the Pope receiving a headdress, but you have to know that gifting/protocol for nehiyawak isn’t only about the recipient, it’s about the person giving the gift wanting to open the mind of the person receiving it,” tweeted Emily Riddle. “It places two people in relationship.”

This is wrong. Giving an okimaw astotin (headdress) to the leader of an institution that enacted Genocide on our Peoples is wrong. I have to say this as the actions of the people (person?) who organized this may confuse others and cause further harm. Genocide is the breaking /1 pic.twitter.com/P93zP2jag2

— Dr James Makokis (nehiyô), MD, M.H.Sc, CCFP ???? (@DrMakokis) July 26, 2022

Immediately felt sick seeing the Pope in a headdress.

— dr pepper ndn (@sharensworld) July 25, 2022

i don’t know how i feel about the pope receiving a headdress, but you have to know that gifting/protocol for nehiyawak isn’t only about the recipient, it’s about the person giving the gift wanting to open the mind of the person receiving it. it places two people in relationship.

— Emily Riddle (@emilyjaneriddle) July 25, 2022

Samson Cree Elder John Crier says the gesture honours the Pope for the work he has done.

“The giving of the headdress is honouring a man as the honourary chief and leader in a community,” he said. “So, in doing that it actually adopted him as one of our leaders in the community.”

CityNews reached out to Chief Littlechild but did not immediately hear back.

—With files from The Associated Press.