Indigenous Leader Meets Trump at G7 With Message of Peace \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Tsuut’ina First Nation leader Steven Crowchild says he was “filled with rage” upon learning he’d meet President Trump at the G7 summit in Canada but chose to stay to advocate for peace and water protection. The encounter highlighted Indigenous voices amid global leadership.
Quick Looks
- Steven Crowchild met President Trump at G7 arrival in Calgary
- Initially considered walking away in protest
- Chose diplomacy, praying and consulting elders before speaking
- Wore traditional regalia and showed treaty medals to Trump
- Advocated for clean water, peace, and Indigenous dignity
- Described Trump as “just another person”
- Hopes his message promotes Indigenous visibility and values
- Encounter lasted several minutes but details kept private
Deep Look
When Steven Crowchild, a leader of the Tsuut’ina First Nation, was invited to stand among Canadian dignitaries to greet world leaders at the G7 summit near Calgary, he knew the responsibility went far beyond ceremonial duty. It was a chance to represent Indigenous values on an international stage—a rare moment of visibility in global politics for voices often ignored or sidelined.
But when he learned that President Donald Trump would be among the arrivals, the opportunity felt more like a burden. “I was filled with rage,” Crowchild admitted. “I almost didn’t stay.”
Trump, now serving in his second term as U.S. president, remains a polarizing figure, especially among Indigenous communities across North America. His administration has been widely criticized for environmental deregulation, oil pipeline approvals, and for opposing many Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice movements. For Crowchild, the idea of greeting Trump—let alone speaking with him—was almost unbearable.
“I didn’t want to bring any negativity to my people,” he explained. “However, I did consult with close people and advisers and, based on feedback, I stayed, considering that visibility is key and diplomacy is important.”
Wearing traditional Tsuut’ina regalia, including a feathered headdress symbolic of leadership, strength, and ancestry, Crowchild decided to meet the moment not with protest, but with purpose. “I prayed to my creator,” he said, “and I really thought of those suffering around the world.”
When Trump’s plane landed and the president emerged wearing his signature white “Make America Great Again” cap, Crowchild stood his ground. What followed was a lengthy and intense conversation between the two, conducted in part in Crowchild’s traditional language. While neither party disclosed the full details of their dialogue, Crowchild offered Trump a powerful visual—treaty medals that predate Canada itself. He used them to ground their exchange in the long and often painful history of Indigenous relations with colonial and federal powers.
“The medals I showed him are older than Canada,” Crowchild emphasized, underscoring the enduring legacy of Indigenous sovereignty that continues to inform his activism.
This encounter wasn’t just about confronting a controversial figure; it was about ensuring that Indigenous issues—especially the protection of water, land, and future generations—were not overlooked amid the global policymaking of the G7 summit. “I spoke for my elders,” Crowchild said. “I tried to remind each leader I greeted to protect our water for future generations.”
His message was rooted in the traditional worldview of the Tsuut’ina and many First Nations peoples: that water is life, peace is strength, and leadership is a sacred responsibility. “Instead of war, I choose peace,” he said.
Despite Trump’s reputation, Crowchild approached him as “just another person,” yet fully aware of the president’s global influence. “Some would say he’s a horrible person, and we all know many reasons,” he stated plainly. “But I stood taller than him as proud Tsuut’ina Isgiya.”
Crowchild’s decision to remain, to engage, and to speak for his people was deeply symbolic. It highlighted the power of Indigenous diplomacy—not the politics of aggression, but the politics of endurance, cultural pride, and moral clarity. His presence on that tarmac, his voice in that conversation, and his message of unity and environmental protection served as a profound counterpoint to the typical spectacle of global summits.
As world leaders discussed trade, security, and climate policy inside the G7 summit, outside, Crowchild embodied the voice of generations. He reminded them that true leadership requires listening to the past and protecting the future. Whether the message was heard or not remains to be seen, but its delivery—fierce, thoughtful, and dignified—spoke volumes.
In the words of Crowchild, “Visibility is key. Diplomacy is important. And we must never forget who we are, and who we speak for.”
Indigenous Leader Meets Indigenous Leader Meets
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