Enoch Cree Nation welcomes Ice Cube to their territory with starblanket

Rapper and actor Ice Cubehas collected a few giftsfromIndigenous people in Canada in his travelsand he got another one this week at a stop onhis "Straight into Canada" tour.

Eleesha Papinfrom Enoch Cree Nation nearEdmontonpresented him with a starblanket on behalf of her community during his show at theirRiver Cree Resort Casino.

"Our people are about love and about nurturing, and about acceptance and welcoming we need to see that more," said Papin.

The king size blanket detailed with theRaiders logo and west side hand signwas madeby local artist Kayla Morgan and her mother Judy Cardinal.

Papin remembers jamming out with her family to Ice Cube's music and watching his movies at home.

Since then, her dad and brother died and she says Ice Cube's musichelped her along her healing journey. She'smarking four years of sobriety in May and said the rapperis a role model for her.

"Our people and his people went through the same thing and we are breaking cycles," she said.

WATCH | Ice Cube talks to CBC Indigenous:

Ice Cube talks about gifts from Indigenous fans

5 months ago

Duration 2:15

First a medallion, now a blanket. Rapper Ice Cubes Indigenous fans show their appreciation as he returns north for the second round of his Straight into Canada' tour.

This week'sevent at River Cree Resort Casino was part of Ice Cube'ssecond round of concerts in Canadathis year.Several shows wereat First Nations-owned venues.

"The fact that the casino is owned by First Nations is great," Ice Cube toldCBC Indigenous.

"Some form, piece of the pie, is going where it needs to go."

In February,Tahltan beader Carmen Dennisthrew a medallion she made of the rapper onto the stage at a concert in Abbotsford, B.C., and this week, he was gifted thestarblanket.

"I'm always blown away that people would spend that much time and talent to do something specifically for me," he said.

He said he thinks his music resonates with Indigenous people because it's authentic.

"I speak truth to power. I lay it on the line," he said.

"It's not just all for my benefit. Hopefully it's medicine for the hearts of a lot of people who feel the same way."

Kyle Peacock, acouncillor for Enoch Cree Nation, was among those on stage welcoming Ice Cube.

Peacock said Ice Cube's musicspoke to him when it first came out because it addressed discrimination and racism.

He said it helped raise awareness and was inspiration to stand up against it.

"And to think, from then to now, we've come so far," said Peacock.