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Canadian indigenous leader was ‘filled with rage’ before ‘intense’ conversation with Trump
Steven Crowchild, tasked with greeting G7 leaders, wrestled with his conscience before engaging with the US president
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A Canadian indigenous leader who greeted world heads of state arriving for the Group of Seven (G7) summit says he was “filled with rage” and considered leaving before Donald Trump arrived, saying the US president has “caused much pain and suffering in the world”.
Instead, Steven Crowchild prayed, consulted his peoples’ leaders and ultimately opted to stay on the tarmac for a long conversation with Trump that he hopes will call more attention to promoting peace, protecting clean water and other issues key to Canada’s First Nation peoples.
“It was really intense, to say the least,” Crowchild said on Monday, recalling his lengthy encounter with Trump on Sunday night in Calgary for the G7 in nearby Kananaskis. “When I woke up on Father’s Day, I didn’t anticipate I would be seeing world leaders, and one certain individual that has caused much pain and suffering in the world.”
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In Canada, First Nations refers to one of three major legally recognised groups of aboriginal people. Crowchild, of the Tsuut’ina First Nation, is a Tsuut’ina Isgiya and a current elected member of the Tsuut’ina Nation Xakujaa-yina and Chief and Council.
Crowchild said he spoke in his people’s traditional language, wore feathered headgear that made him feel strong and showed Trump treaty medals that he told the president were older than Canada itself. Trump wore a white “Make America Great Again” (Maga) cap and appeared to be listening at length - though both sides declined to comment on exactly what was said.
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