Pop star Rihanna received a beaded lanyard and a Mohawk language lesson from a flight attendant during a recent trip from Toronto to Montreal [1, 2].
The exchange highlights the visibility of Indigenous cultures in public spaces and the personal impact of cultural sharing between high-profile figures and First Nations people.
Lily Kahnerahtiio Dailleboust, a flight attendant from Kahnawake, presented the gift to the singer during the Air Canada flight [1, 3]. Dailleboust provided a beaded lanyard, which some reports describe as a keychain [1, 2], as a way to share her heritage.
"I wanted to share a piece of my culture with Rihanna," Dailleboust said [1].
As part of the interaction, Dailleboust taught Rihanna a word in Kanien’kéha, the Mohawk language. Rihanna learned the word "Nia:wen," which means thank you [1, 4].
"Nia:wen – thank you," Rihanna said [1].
The interaction occurred the week before June 8, 2026 [3, 5]. The singer expressed gratitude for the gesture and the educational moment provided during the short flight between the two Canadian cities.
"That was a wonderful experience, I will never forget it," Rihanna said [1].
The gesture took place shortly before a scheduled concert by A$AP Rocky at the Bell Centre on June 9, 2026 [6].
“"I wanted to share a piece of my culture with Rihanna."”
This interaction serves as a micro-example of cultural diplomacy and the preservation of Indigenous languages. By introducing a global celebrity to Kanien’kéha, Dailleboust leveraged a brief encounter to bring awareness to Mohawk heritage and the continued relevance of First Nations traditions within modern Canadian infrastructure.
