On a recent flight from Toronto to Montreal, a Mohawk flight attendant shared a special moment with Rihanna by teaching her how to say thank you in Kanien’kéha, the Mohawk language. Lily Kahnerahtiio Dailleboust, originally from Kahnawà:ke, a Mohawk community near Montreal, presented Rihanna with a beaded lanyard. In a social media post by Dailleboust, Rihanna expressed her gratitude for the gift and inquired about the language.
Rihanna, in a video shared by Dailleboust, expressed her appreciation for the thoughtful gift and learned how to say “niá:wen,” meaning thank you in Kanien’kéha. Dailleboust, who works for Air Canada, mentioned that Rihanna immediately attached the beaded lanyard to her purse and showed admiration for Indigenous people.
Dailleboust revealed that Rihanna mentioned she had never met a Mohawk person before and demonstrated an accurate pronunciation of Kanien’kéha. During their interaction, Rihanna offered to take photos and sign autographs. Dailleboust noted that although the flight did not have a business class section, they were informed in advance that Rihanna would be onboard as a VIP passenger.
Following the positive response to the video she shared on social media, Dailleboust received encouraging feedback from the Kahnawà:ke community and other Haudenosaunee territories. Tekaronhiahkhwa Standup, the owner of Traditions, the art shop where the beaded lanyard was purchased, expressed joy over the attention the video brought to their store and community.
Standup highlighted the significance of Rihanna’s openness to learning a simple phrase in Kanien’kéha and her respect for the culture. The video of the exchange between Dailleboust and Rihanna was well-received, resonating with the Mohawk community and beyond, bringing attention to their art and traditions.