Indigenous Leadership Drives Reconciliation Policy at Miss Universe Canada Pageant

Leading Indigenous voice Ashley Callingbull has secured a commitment for structural change within the Miss Universe Canada organization following the 2026 pageant. Callingbull, who is Plains Cree from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, took a stand during the event to address the use of culturally inappropriate costumes, transforming a moment of tension into an opportunity for education and reconciliation. During the costume portion of the pageant held on August 4 in Windsor, Ontario, two contestants appeared in outfits that Callingbull and other Indigenous leaders described as cultural appropriation. One contestant wore a feathered headdress—a sacred item in First Nations culture—while another wore an "Arctic Beauty" costume. Callingbull, the first Indigenous woman to win Mrs. Universe in 2015, used her platform as the pageant host to speak directly to the audience and organizers about the need for respect toward sacred Indigenous symbols. In a collaborative response on stage, Miss Universe Canada director Sonny Borrelli announced that Callingbull will serve as the organization's new cultural liaison. Borrelli stated that the pageant will implement formal guidelines and involve cultural consultants for future events to ensure all cultures are honored appropriately. "We're going to make sure that everyone is going to be respected and honoured properly," Callingbull told the audience, emphasizing that reconciliation involves learning and moving forward in a good way. The move was supported by Emma Morrison, a Mushkegowuk Cree woman and Miss World Canada 2022, who noted that such incidents often stem from a lack of education. The appointment of a dedicated liaison marks a significant step for the national pageant in aligning its practices with respectful Indigenous representation.