Anishinaabe regalia stolen from parked vehicle in Toronto

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Tim McGregor’s regalia was in a suitcase stolen from his truck at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. He said his cousin spent six months doing the beadwork and the theft “felt like leaving a piece of me behind.”

Toronto police are seeking witnesses after suitcase with fully beaded Anishinaabe regalia was stolen from a vehicle early Saturday.

“Do yourself — and me — a great big favour, and give it back,” said Tim McGregor, in an appeal to the thief who broke into his truck in the Bay and Edward streets area around 2:30 a.m. and took his suitcase containing the regalia.

McGregor, an elder and educator from Whitefish River First Nation, on the shores of Georgian Bay near Manitoulin Island, said his “heart sank” when he realized his suitcase was missing.

“I knew exactly what was gone and what it meant to me,” he told the Star in an interview. “It felt like leaving a piece of me behind, and it hurt bad.”

McGregor’s cousin beaded the regalia for him, a process he said took her six months. “She put a lot of her own spirit into it.”

Every aspect of the sacred clothing was meaningful, he said, including the red hues used to symbolize ties between generations.

McGregor also used the regalia when teaching elementary students, allowing them to “touch and hold and feel” Anishinaabe history and culture.

He said often parks in the area without incident, and that breaking into his truck would require some heavy lifting.

“It’s pretty secure unless you know what you’re doing, which apparently these thieves did,” he said.

McGregor said he hopes the thief realizes they have made a mistake and returns his regalia.

“It’s more than just beads,” he said. “It doesn’t have any meaning for you.”

Police are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/do-us- ... 7ea2c.html