Leander Dreaver in his regalia at a powwow in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Stolen regalia return

Stolen regalia returned to owner

Aug 2, 2024 | 5:02 PM

One Prince Albert teen and his mother have had some faith in humanity restored.

Leander Dreaver’s mother, Jessica Rabbitskin were hunting for any information on Leander’s missing regalia, taken from their vehicle in the East Flat last week two weeks ago.

Yesterday, while running her booth at the Prince Albert Exhibition, Rabbitskin got a static filled phone call.

“It came in as spam,” she said. “Usually I just block the spam calls right away but I answered this one and it was an older voice, an older man.”

The caller told her he had found a red suitcase inside a black plastic bag after hearing two other people talk about where they left it.

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The man recovered the suitcase and called Rabbitskin, who had been reaching out via news media and social media looking for where her son’s precious regalia might be.

Rabbitskin immediately went to the man’s residence, which is not that far from where she lives, and the regalia was taken.

“He came outside carrying a suitcase and I just had happy tears in my eye. I gave him a hug,” she said.

Leander’s regalia is stored in this suitcase, as it was when it was returned to him. (submitted/Jessica Rabbitskin)

The man tried to give more explanation as to how he found the suitcase but Rabbitskin told him she didn’t want to know; she was just glad to have the items returned.

The items have been collected for Leander since before he was born and come from family members, his mother and some he made himself. They have a strong meaning for him as he wears them in pow wows as he dances.

“It’s held very close to us, spiritually and culturally; it’s important and it was taken out of our truck two days ago,” he told paNOW just after the items were taken.

When they checked last night, every item was still in the suitcase, and they had all been folded and placed inside neatly.

Leander smudged all of the items and Rabbitskin said they are both extremely grateful.

“He was quiet, you know, quiet with a big smile on his face. He was just taking it all in. He was just holding the pieces close to him and just smiling,” she said.

Together, mother and son went over the items and how he came to have them and the family connections they represent.

She plans to take Leander and a gift for the man who returned the items as an in-person thank you in the next few days.

Rabbitskin said she is also very thankful for all the community support she received and the social media shares to help get the word out.

Leander Dreaver uses the regalia in dances across Canada and the U.S. (submitted/Jessica Rabbitskin)

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com