Headdress returned to Chief Scott McLeod of Nipissing First Nation
March 15, 2023 – Peel police announced on Monday, March 14th that a sacred First Nation headdress that belonged to Scott McLeod, the Chief of Nipissing First Nation, has been recovered by one of their officers after being stolen.
The headdress was in a Jeep that was stolen from a Mississauga hotel parking lot over the weekend. The Chief was in town for a hockey tournament when his car was stolen, along with the sacred headdress.
The Nipissing First Nation headdress was reconstructed following more than two years of research by elders, academics, historians, and geographers (all familiar with the resources available 100 years ago). The beadwork style represents the women’s roles in supporting the leader wearing the ceremonial headdress. The 7 white eagle feathers signify the commitment that a leader makes to lead with responsibility following the 7 grandfather/grandmother teachings.
According to the police, an officer out on patrol in Brampton spotted the stolen Jeep in a parking lot and recovered the headdress. The property was not damaged and it was returned to its rightful owner.
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah released a statement expressing gratitude to community members for their assistance, and thanking his officers for their dedication and determination in ensuring the safe return of the ceremonial headdress.
“Through proactive policing, our officers were able to locate and recover the stolen ceremonial headdress of Nipissing First Nation,” he said.
Duraiappah also asked that anyone with information about the theft, including video footage from the area, contact police at 905-453-2121 ext. 1233 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
This incident serves as a reminder to all residents to report any suspicious activity they may witness, to help keep our communities safe.
