Harper given ceremonial title

Stephen Harper can now add honourary tribal chief to his resume. The prime minister was given the title of Chief Speaker at a ceremony in Stand Off, Alberta on Monday. There he posed for photos donning a massive feathery Aboriginal hat and yellow face paint.

The Blood Tribe say they are honouring Harper for his apology for residential schools in 2008. But Harper has been criticized widely for his policies towards First Nations. There was a large campaign condemning the Olympics on stolen Native land. And many advocacy groups have pressured the Harper government with human and environmental rights abuses affecting natives due to Alberta tar sand excavation. In 2009, Harper also said that Canada has no history of colonialism.

Harper will join the company of three other Canadian prime ministers who have been named honourary tribal chiefs.