An Indigenous headdress that was inside a vehicle stolen from the parking lot of a Mississauga hotel over the weekend has been found and returned to its owner.

The ceremonial garment was inside a Green Jeep Wrangler belonging to Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod when it was stolen at around 3 a.m. on Saturday from the Sandman Signature Mississauga hotel.

Shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday, Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah tweeted that the headdress had been located.

The stolen vehicle was found abandoned in a parking lot near Dixie Road and Steeles Avenue West by a patrol officer.

Police said in a press release that both the headdress and the vehicle were recovered and no physical damage was sustained.

“Through proactive policing, our officers were able to locate and recover the stolen ceremonial headdress of Nipissing First Nation,” Duraiappah said.

“Recognizing the great significance of the sacred headdress, we thank our community for their assistance, and our officers for their dedication and determination to ensure its safe return to Chief Scott McLeod.”

The return of the headdress, which features seven white eagle feathers that signify the commitment that a leader makes to lead with responsibility, comes after a public appeal by McLeod. It took more than two years of research by elders, academics, historians and geographers to reconstruct the piece. 

“I ask that the perpetrators of this theft find it upon themselves to kindly return the headdress, this can be done anonymously, to the Sandman Signature Mississauga hotel or to one of the arenas where the event is taking place,” McLeod said.

On Saturday evening, Duraiappah said the force would “pursue all avenues” in an effort to find the piece.

It is not known at this point if any arrests have been made or if any charges will be laid.

With files from Bryann Aguilar.