Anishinaabe regalia stolen from parked vehicle in downtown Toronto

An Anishnaabe educator and dancer who was visiting Toronto for the weekend said he was left “in a daze” when he realized his invaluable Anishinaabe regalia had been stolen from his vehicle.

Tim McGregor, from Birch Island in Whitefish River First Nation, told The Leader Spirit he was staying at the Chelsea Hotel downtown and parked his car at a public lot near Bay and Edward streets.

When he returned to his vehicle on Sunday morning, he noticed that the canvas top had been slashed and his suitcase that carried the sacred regalia was gone.

“What you took is something that doesn’t have the monetary value that you think it might have, it’s more spiritual and it belongs to the Anishnaabe Nation firstly,” he said, relaying a message to the thief. “It represents our nation.”

He said his cousin, who hand crafted the regalia, was devastated to learn it was stolen.

“A lot of hours and love were put into making the regalia,” he said.

McGregor is well known at schools in the GTA where he educates students on Anishnaabe history and teachings.

“It was very special to me,” he said of the regalia. “There’s been a connection that’s been severed.”

Toronto police investigators are seeking the public’s help finding a suspect and retrieving the regalia.

If you know anything about the theft, contact Toronto Police.