A NEW INDIAN CHIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19625, 2 May 1927, Page 11

A NEW INDIAN CHIEF.

LORD WILLINGDON INVESTED. TITLE OF "CHIEF RAINBOW." [from our own correspondent. ] VANCOUVER. April 6. Lord Willingdon, Governor-General of Canada,, is now Chief Rainbow, of the Indian tribes o'f British Columbia, having been invested with eagle-feathered head-dress, mantle and sceptre, in a colourful ceremony on his first official visit to the [West. Lord and Lady Willingdon, accompanied by the Lieutenant-Governor, were borne from the landing stage on Vancouver Island iin a Avar canoe that had been in use half a-century ago in intertribal raids to a rocky gorge that opened on to a clearing Whero hundreds of braves and squaws had assembled and camped. Two paramount chiefs accompanied them. A guardsman, hideous in wlar paint, flourished a ceremonial spear in the prow of the canoe, while five rowers chanted the mournful " Song of the Paddle." A great gathering of palefaces awaited the Vice-Regal party. Their Excellencies were conducted to a tept. and bade to rest, after their journey, while a war council was held on a strip of . open woodland. Hero chiefs, one after another, harangued the braves, eulogising the new chieftain, who was to rule over all. Lord and Lady Willingdon watched the " pow-wow " with interest from the door of their tepee. His Excellency was then led into the centre of the circle of squatting braves, who rose as he entered. An Indian blanket, exquisitely woven from wool of the rare mountain sheep, was placed on his shoulders. He accepted from the hands of the guardsman-at-arms, the head-dress of supreme chieftain, from, another the totern sceptre of authority.. Group by group, the tribes passed before him, and made humble obeisance. Ladv Willingdon accepted from the chief's wife an Indian basket filled with dog-tooth violets and b'.uegrass blooms. His Excellency, in responding, commended the tribes for their continued allegiance to the Sovereign.