National Chief Shawn Atleo recently stepped down from his post with the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa citing an unease with the way the debate over Bill C33—the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act—is unfolding.
Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation Chief Clint Williams said he was taken by surprise. “I couldn’t’ believe it when I heard the news,” he said. “I have huge respect for Shawn and was extremely disappointed with how things have developed. I can appreciate his passion for the education act. He was trying to recommend that people review the act and to offer feedback as part of the necessary process.”
Looking at his own community’s situation, Williams said “We’ve had a similar challenge here with our treaty. There are those that totally oppose it and many people who support it, but finding the balance is not easy.”
The difference, Williams said, is that Atleo represents between 600 and 700 bands across the country making for much greater implications.
“Though I haven’t yet seen any of the opposition write-ups, at the press conference [Atleo] said he didn’t want to be a magnet or a lightning rod for opposition on the act,” said Williams. “Locally, I think people were quite supportive.”
He said there was a contingent of people accusing Atleo of being too close to the Stephen Harper government. “I think it was former National Chief Phil Fontaine, of the Sagkeeng First Nation, on the Fort Alexander Reserve in Manitoba, that was also accused of being too close to the Liberal government,” Williams said. “The reality is that if you want to have a good effect and good results with the government there does need to be a good working relationship,” relating that it is often easy for people to misinterpret where loyalties lay.
“I stuck out the first vote with Atleo,” he said. “I still remain a strong supporter.”
