Latest news with #StevenCrowchild
CTV News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Tsuut'ina chief elaborates on comments to Trump
Calgary Watch Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild explains upon his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump in Calgary.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief expands on comments to U.S. President Donald Trump at G7
Saturday, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild expanded upon his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump that took place last Sunday on the tarmac at Calgary International Airport. Crowchild welcomed the American president to Treaty 7 territory wearing a feathered headdress while Trump wore a white baseball cap with 'Make America Great Again' on it. Saturday at a media event on the Tsuut'ina Nation, Crowchild emphasized the inter-connectedness between water and peace. 'Where water is polluted or privatized, conflict brews,' he said. 'Where peace is broken, water systems collapse. 'If we truly want peace, we must protect water,' he said. 'If we truly want security, we must act on climate change and environmental justice now. Steven Crowchild U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Calgary International Airport, greeting Indigenous leader Steven Crowchild, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Calgary, Canada, ahead of the G7 Summit. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Crowchild also called on all world governments including Canada and the United States 'to put the protection, dignity, respect and love for all our children and future generations at the centre of decision making -- and recognize access to clean water as a universal human right. 'And protect it in all national and international policies,' he added. 'Uphold Indigenous sovereignty and support Indigenous-led water protection and climate solutions. Fund global efforts to restore rivers, wetlands, and natural water systems as part climate adaptation and peace building. 'And ban the use of water as a weapon in conflict zones,' he said, 'and hold violators accountable under international law -- and above all, prioritize diplomacy and peaceful resolution over military escalation and arms spending.' As for his Sunday night meet-and-greet on the tarmac with the American president, Crowchild said it was brief. 'It was a simple conversation,' he said about the encounter, which received global attention when Crowchild described himself as 'filled with rage' while speaking with Trump. Steven Crowchild Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild wearing the medal he showed President Trump at the G7 welcoming last Sunday night at Calgary International Airport (Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary) 'After sitting with my quote unquote rage and praying, I was reminded that my rage came from a place of grief and love – love for my people, all humanity, and love for this beautiful planet that we share," he said. 'And grief for those in the world suffering from the actions, words and inactions of a certain individual,' he said, 'and many others who have the ability to bring peace to the world. 'Our conversation was short,' he said, continuing, 'I introduced myself in my language and said 'this is native land'. '(Then) I introduced myself in English and my nation,' he said. 'I showed him this treaty medal here and told him that it's older than Canada itself. Canada Trump G7 Summit Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with President Donald Trump after a group photo at the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) 'I said welcome to treaty, native land – and I wish you safe travels home. 'I told him that I speak for my babies, elders and future generations and to be a good leader and protect water for future generations.' 'All he said in response was something along the lines of 'Yeah. Yeah. We can do that.'' 'So hopefully they can do that,' he said. 'Because our collective survival depends on it.' With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild expands on conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump at G7
Saturday, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild expanded upon his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump that took place last Sunday on the tarmac at Calgary International Airport. Crowchild welcomed the American president to Treaty 7 territory wearing a feathered headdress while Trump wore a white baseball cap with 'Make America Great Again' on it. In a preamble to his explanation of his conversation with Trump, Crowchild emphasized the inter-connectedness between water and peace. 'Where water is polluted or privatized, conflict brews,' he said. 'Where peace is broken, water systems collapse. 'If we truly want peace, we must protect water,' he said. 'If we truly want security, we must act on climate change and environmental justice now. Steven Crowchild U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Calgary International Airport, greeting Indigenous leader Steven Crowchild, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Calgary, Canada, ahead of the G7 Summit. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Crowchild said he was calling on all world governments including Canada and the United States 'to put the protection, dignity, respect and love for all our children and future generations at the centre of decision-making -- and recognize access to clean water as a universal human right. 'And protect it in all national and international policies,' he added. 'Uphold Indigenous sovereignty and support Indigenous-led water protection and climate solutions. Fund global efforts to restore rivers, wetlands, and natural water systems as part climate adaptation and peace building. 'And ban the use of water as a weapon in conflict zones,' he said, 'and hold violators accountable under international law -- and above all, prioritize diplomacy and peaceful resolution over military escalation and arms spending.' As for his Sunday night meet-and-greet on the tarmac with the American president, Crowchild said it was brief. "It was a simple conversation," he said about the encounter, which received global attention when Crowchild described himself as 'filled with rage' while speaking with Trump. Steven Crowchild Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild wearing the medal he showed President Trump at the G7 welcoming last Sunday night at Calgary International Airport (Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary) 'After sitting with my quote unquote rage and praying, I was reminded that my rage came from a place of grief and love – love for my people, all humanity, and love for this beautiful planet that we share," he said. 'And grief for those in the world suffering from the actions, words and inactions of a certain individual,' he said, 'and many others who have the ability to bring peace to the world. 'Our conversation was short,' he said, continuing. 'I introduced myself in my language and said 'this is native land'. '(Then) I introduced myself in English and my nation,' he said. 'I showed him this treaty medal here and told him that it's older than Canada itself. Canada Trump G7 Summit Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with President Donald Trump after a group photo at the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) 'I said welcome to treaty, native land – and I wish you safe travels home. 'I told him that I speak for my babies, elders and future generations and to be a good leader and protect water for future generations.' 'All he said in response was something along the lines of 'Yeah. Yeah. We can do that.'' 'And then, that was the end of our interaction,' said Crowchild, who met the press on National Indigenous Peoples Day. 'So hopefully they can do that,' he said. 'Because our collective survival depends on it.' With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Canadian Indigenous leader says he was ‘filled with rage' before ‘intense' conversation with Trump
KANANASKIS, Alberta (AP) — A Canadian Indigenous leader who greeted world heads of state arriving for the Group of Seven summit says he was 'filled with rage' and considered leaving before Donald Trump arrived — saying the U.S. president has 'caused much pain and suffering in the world.' Instead, Steven Crowchild prayed, consulted with his peoples' leaders and ultimately opted to stay on the tarmac for a long conversation with Trump that he hopes will call more attention to promoting peace, protecting clean water and other issues key to Canada's First Nation peoples. 'It was really intense, to say the least,' Crowchild told The Associated Press on Monday, recalling his lengthy encounter with Trump on Sunday night in Calgary for the G7 in nearby Kananaskis. 'When I woke up on Father's Day, I didn't anticipate I would be seeing world leaders, and one certain individual that has caused much pain and suffering in the world.' In Canada, First Nations refers to one of three major legally recognized groups of aboriginal people. Crowchild, of the Tsuut'ina First Nation, is a Tsuut'ina Isgiya and a current elected member of the Tsuut'ina Nation Xakujaa-yina and Chief and Council. Crowchild said he spoke in his people's traditional language, wore feathered headgear that made him feel strong and showed Trump treaty medals that he told the president were older than Canada itself. Trump wore a white 'Make America Great Again' cap and appeared to be listening at length — though both sides declined to comment on exactly what was said. 'When it came to that one individual, I almost didn't stay. I was filled with rage,' Crowchild said. 'I was going to go home because I didn't want to bring any negativity to my people. However, I did consult with close people and advisers and, based on feedback, I stayed, considering that visibility is key and diplomacy is important.' Aware that 'no Indigenous representation was there at the time,' Crowchild said he 'prayed to my creator' and 'really thought of those suffering around the world' in choosing to speak to Trump. 'Instead of war, I choose peace,' he said. Crowchild said that, in addition to Trump, he greeted other arriving world leaders and 'tried to remind each one of them to try to be a good leader and protect our water for future generations.' 'I spoke for my elders,' Crowchild said, noting that he spoke of promoting peace and 'protecting water for future generations' and tried to 'say as much as I could, as wisely as I could, while representing with honor and dignity. Whether he listened or not, time will tell.' He said that, ultimately, the U.S. president is 'just another person.' 'Some would say he's a horrible person, and we all know many reasons,' Crowchild said. 'I stood taller than him as proud Tsuut'ina Isgiya.'
CBC
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
First Nations leader who had 'intense' talk with Trump considered leaving before president landed
A First Nations leader who greeted G7 members on the tarmac in Calgary said he was "filled with rage" and considered leaving before Donald Trump arrived — saying the U.S. president has "caused much pain and suffering in the world." Instead, Steven Crowchild prayed, consulted with Indigenous leaders and ultimately opted to stay for a conversation with Trump that he hopes will bring attention to promoting peace, protecting clean water and other issues he says are key to First Nations. "It was really intense, to say the least," Crowchild, a council member of the Tsuut'ina Nation west of Calgary, told The Associated Press of his lengthy encounter with Trump on Sunday night. "When I woke up on Father's Day, I didn't anticipate I would be seeing world leaders, and one certain individual that has caused much pain and suffering in the world." WATCH | Trump seen stopping to speak with Crowchild: Trump arrives in Alberta for G7 summit 9 hours ago Duration 3:27 U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Calgary on Sunday for the G7 summit, which will bring together many world leaders in Kananaskis. Trump was greeted by several Canadian officials, including Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Crowchild said he spoke in his people's traditional language, wore feathered headgear that made him feel strong and showed Trump treaty medals that he told the president were older than Canada itself. Trump wore a white "Make America Great Again" cap and appeared to be listening at length — though both sides declined to comment on exactly what was said. "When it came to that one individual, I almost didn't stay. I was filled with rage," Crowchild said. "I was going to go home because I didn't want to bring any negativity to my people. However, I did consult with close people and advisers and, based on feedback, I stayed, considering that visibility is key and diplomacy is important." Crowchild said he "prayed to my Creator" and "really thought of those suffering around the world" in choosing to speak to Trump. "Instead of war, I choose peace," he said. Crowchild said that, in addition to Trump, he greeted other world leaders and "tried to remind each one of them to try to be a good leader and protect our water for future generations." Bearspaw Nation Chief Darcy Dixon was part of the receiving line for leaders earlier in the day, but was not present for Trump's receiving line. "I spoke for my elders," Crowchild said, noting that he spoke of promoting peace and tried to "say as much as I could, as wisely as I could, while representing with honour and dignity. Whether he listened or not, time will tell." He said that, ultimately, the U.S. president is "just another person." "Some would say he's a horrible person, and we all know many reasons," Crowchild said. "I stood taller than him as proud Tsuut'ina Isgiya." "outlandish" and "disrespectful."
