Geri Musqua-LeBlanc, a First Nations elder who lives in Halifax, was not even planning to bring her traditional herbal medicine pouch on her holiday to the Dominican Republic. It would have been much better to leave it at home, as it turned out, because an airport security officer’s “desecration” of the pouch during pre-boarding security screening brought Musqua-LeBlanc to near tears, and confirmed her sense that Indigenous spirituality is broadly ignored and rejected in civil society, especially airport security. “We take the screening of sacred items seriously and fully appreciate the sensitivities involved,” said spokeswoman Suzanne Perseo in a statement. “Don’t touch the pouch,” she said again, and he agreed, but seemed unsure how to proceed to clear her for flying. In the end, Musqua-LeBlanc opened her pouch, and said the officer pulled her hand toward her to get a better look.

Source: National Post March 11, 2019 22:18 UTC