Her regalia was stolen. Thunder Bay's powwow community came together to help the teen dance again

Sharlee Achneepineskum says she doubts she'll see her regalia again, but is thankful she can still dance after Thunder Bay, Ont.'s powwow community pieced together a new ensemble for her.

The Grade 10 student, a member of the Ojibway community of Pays Plat First Nation, is a fancy shawl dancer who lives in Thunder Bay. Her powwow regalia was stolen from her family's vehicle during a break-in the morning of Aug. 24.

"I was just really devastated and heartbroken," said Sharlee, 14. "I was just really kind of shocked the whole time — in shock that somebody took something so important to me."

Sharlee designed the regalia and her mother, Mary Magiskan, made it for her. It was strawberry-themed, to represent love, and incorporated eagles to reflect her clan.

"It just made me feel super happy and proud about my culture," Sharlee said.

The Thunder Bay Police Service says the theft occurred in the 200 block of McKellar Street South. Earlier this month, the service issued a renewed call to the public for information.

"The Thunder Bay Police Service continues to hope that these traditional items will be returned to their rightful owner. Anyone in possession of any of the items can drop them off at the Thunder Bay police station," said an Oct. 2 news release.

The family was planning to attend a powwow in Whitedog and had packed their vehicle the night before, Magiskan said. The regalia was inside a small black suitcase.

It took about two months to put together, and included beadwork Sharlee had collected from other powwows and a beaded piece passed through the family that Sharlee, her sister and her mother had worn.

"It's pieces that are unique to us that I've made," Magiskan said. "When you put your energy into something and then it represents you and your family, especially with traditional regalia like that, it was really devastating."

They drove all around town searching for it, scanning back lanes and checking pawn shops, "and we're still looking," Sharlee's mother said.

In the weeks that followed, Sharlee received donations from the community — including bags of ribbon, fabric, furs and beadwork — so her mother could make her new regalia.

"It was inspiring," Magiskan said. "Seeing Sharlee bounce back, and being supported and held up that way by the powwow community was really cool to witness."

'Trying to mimic a butterfly'

Sharlee has been dancing her whole life. She started as a jingle dress dancer before transitioning to fancy shawl, and has participated in a number of powwows over the years.

"Dancing at powwows is for me, personally, just praying for the people around me and just distracting myself from other things that [are] happening in the world, you know?" she said.

Fancy shawl dancing is faster paced than other traditional dances, she explained.

"It's like trying to mimic a butterfly, and my favourite bug is actually a butterfly."

While her original regalia is irreplaceable, Sharlee is grateful for the community's support.

"I'm just super-duper thankful, super happy that I could dance again." 

The stolen items include:

• Beaded red, green and black flower necklace.
• Two beaded heart hair ties with ribbons.
• White ribbon skirt with black and brown ribbons.
• Black shawl with green ribbons and strawberry design.
• Dress with black lace.
• White beaded headpiece.
• Black wraparound moccasins.

Magiskan said her other daughter's purse, identification and about $200 in Canadian cash were also stolen from the vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 807-684-1200 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online. The police incident number is TB24501170.

"If you see it around, we'd still like to have it back because it's still an important part of us that we'd like to have back in our family," Magiskan said.