On a recent flight from Toronto to Montreal, a Kanienâkehá:ka (Mohawk) flight attendant shared a cultural exchange with Rihanna. Lily Kahnerahtiio Dailleboust, hailing from Kahnawà :ke, a Kanienâkehá:ka community near Montreal, presented Rihanna with a beaded lanyard. Impressed, Rihanna expressed her gratitude and inquired about saying thank you in Kanien’kéha, the attendant’s language.
In a social media post, Rihanna thanked Dailleboust for the special gift, emphasizing its significance to her. Dailleboust, an Air Canada employee, mentioned that Rihanna immediately attached the lanyard to her purse and showed admiration for Indigenous people. She shared that she taught Rihanna the word “Niá:wen,” which means thank you in her language.
Dailleboust mentioned that Rihanna mentioned she had never met a Kanienâkehá:ka person before and praised Rihanna’s accurate pronunciation of Kanien’kéha. During their interaction, Rihanna offered to take photos and sign autographs.
Although the flight lacked a business class section, Dailleboust explained that they were informed in advance about Rihanna’s presence as a VIP passenger. Dailleboust emphasized that they respect passengers’ privacy and do not initiate interactions unless the passengers initiate.
Since the video was shared on social media, Dailleboust has received positive feedback from the Kahnawà :ke community and other Haudenosaunee territories. Tekaronhiahkhwa Standup, the owner of Traditions, the shop where the lanyard was purchased, expressed delight in the exposure their work received through Rihanna’s acknowledgment.
Standup, a beader herself, highlighted the impact of Rihanna’s openness to learning a simple phrase in Kanien’kéha and the subsequent viral spread of the video, describing it as a rewarding experience for the community and their artistic endeavors.
