Granddaughter fights to recover stolen regalia

Eaglsong Kinistino is on a mission.

The young woman from Saskatoon is now doing all she can to find the person whole stole her grandmother's traditional Indigenous regalia from the back of a pick-up truck.

"I could see it in her eyes that she was sad," said Kinistino.

It's sacred for us to have an outfit and to dance in an outfit.- EaglsongKinistino

Kinistino's baby was sickand her grandmother had come to the city from a powwow on the Beardy's & Okemasis Cree Nation to visit. She accidentally left her regalia in a suitcase in the back of the pick-up, and in the morning it was gone.

"She was quiet, not talking and she didn't even smile at all," said Kinistino. "It's sacred for us to have an outfit and to dance in an outfit."

Priceless

Kinistino's grandmother does her own beadwork. It took years to craft the elaborate decorations on the outfit which included a cape, crown, breast plate and moccasins. She thinks the outfit may be worth about $1,000 to replace, but in many ways the sentimental value makes it priceless.

"It means everything to her. Some of the pieces on there were passed down to her mother."

Kinistino is now meeting with police, and is trying to find out if the thief was caught on surveillance cameras at the hotel.She has also posted a public plea on social mediaand will visit local pawn shops to find out if anyone has come around trying to sell the regalia.

Her grandmother, meanwhile, is not resting and is not bogged down in sadness over the loss of her outfit. Kinistino said she is digging through her collection to try and put together another outfit so that she can keep attending powwows.

"She has old pieces of her outfit from way, way, way back when."