Alaska Airlines Apologizes to Passenger Over Sacred Pouches
A flight attendant asked a Standing Rock Sioux student to remove sacred medicine pouches, prompting a formal airline apology.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Native American
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Alaska Airlines regional vice-president Marilyn Romano apologized to passenger Tipiziwin Tolman after a flight attendant asked her to remove sacred medicine pouches from her neck during a Seattle to Vancouver flight. The airline said a crew member misinterpreted a safety policy.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about how airline crews apply safety rules to religious and cultural items worn by Indigenous passengers. Alaska Airlines said it is reviewing its training curriculum in response.
The airline initially offered Tolman a $50 US credit, which she sought to exceed by requesting a formal public apology and compensation beyond that amount. The reported details do not specify the final resolution.
The players
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is a major U.S. airline headquartered in Seattle, Washington, operating domestic and international routes across North America.
Marilyn Romano
Marilyn Romano is a regional vice-president at Alaska Airlines who personally apologized to the passenger on the airline's behalf.
The details
Tolman, a Dakota and Lakota student from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said a flight attendant asked her to remove the pouches during a flight from Seattle to Vancouver. After she contacted Alaska Airlines customer care and her story was published by CBC News, Romano called her about an hour later to apologize and explain the crew's safety concerns.
Timeline
Last Monday: Tolman's flight from Seattle to Vancouver, during which the incident occurred
Friday: CBC News published Tolman's account of the incident
About one hour after publication: Romano called Tolman to apologize
Culture Shift
The incident highlights a recurring tension between standardized airline safety procedures and the religious practices of Native American travelers, a dynamic that has prompted calls for intercultural training across the aviation sector. Tolman's request for continual training signals a push to make such awareness a lasting part of crew preparation.
Travelers who wear religious or cultural items should be prepared to explain them to crew members during screening and boarding. Policies on such items may be applied differently across crews, so passengers may wish to note the airline's guidance before flying.
The takeaway
Respectful accommodation of sacred items depends on clear crew training that distinguishes genuine safety concerns from religious practice. Passengers can help by carrying a brief explanation of any cultural or religious items they wear.
Further reading
For more on Indigenous perspectives and traditions, explore the Native American section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBC News.
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