According to the Miss Universe Canada website, the national costume segment is “a celebration of Canadian culture and heritage, combined with creativity”, according to the Miss Universe Canada website.
“Each delegate must showcase a unique costume, dress, or outfit inspired by Canada’s traditions, symbols, and history” it states.
It has now said it will introduce a “comprehensive costume guide” that will “establish clear guidelines and standards for all future pageant cycles to ensure every presentation is thoughtful and respectful”.
Pageant director Sonny Borrelli said he has also invited Callingbull, who is the first First Nations woman to win the competition, to be the costume segment’s official liaison moving forward.
He was co-presenting with Callingbull during Saturday’s final, when she said the organisation’s statement lacked a direct apology and invited him to address the issue. He said Miss Universe Canada takes “full responsibility” for the error.
“We will learn from it, we will make it better, we will make it right,” he said,
Callingbull also thanked the pageant’s organisers for being receptive when she reached out with concerns over the costume.
“A part of reconciliation is that we educate and learn and understand and move on from these things in a good way,” she said, adding: “We’re going to make sure that everyone is going to be respected and honoured properly.”
Callingbull also spoke to CBC Indigenous about her reaction to seeing the costumes.
“This cannot be real. I just couldn’t get over that this was happening,” she said. “Who allowed this on stage? Who approved this?”
“Anything traditional or sacred should not be allowed. I was very, very upset.”
It is not the first time the Miss Universe Canada competition has been criticised for cultural appropriation.
In 2015, the organisation said there had been a “misunderstanding” regarding entrant Paola Nunuz Valdez, who wore a totem pole costume during the national costume segment.
Both she and the organisation said it had been meant to refer to her Dominican heritage.
Callingbull said at the time that she had recommended Miss Universe Canada consider hiring a cultural consultant.
