Incumbent National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo has been re-elected as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Atleo was elected for a second three-year term, emerging victorious after three ballots of voting that took place on Wednesday, July 18 during the National Assembly of First Nations.
“I’m very happy that National Chief Atleo was re-elected,” said Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation Chief Clint Williams, who the Peak reached at the national assembly. “We [the Sliammon people] are over here in Toronto supporting him and also carrying proxy for the Klahoose First Nation.”
For the first time in history the race had an even split of male and female candidates. Atleo’s strongest opponents were Dr. Pam Palmater and Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus. Both Palmater and Erasmus gathered steam as they drew support from other candidates forced to drop off the first and second ballot, but in the end it was Atleo who once again emerged as National Chief.
Even in initial ballots, Atleo had a wide lead, receiving 52 per cent of the first and 59 per cent of the second. He fell just three votes short of the necessary 60 per cent to win on the second ballot, so voting continued to a third. In the end he earned 341 votes, surpassing the 60 per cent needed of the 540 votes cast. Palmater finished with 141 votes while Erasmus trailed with 30.
Williams was one of over 500 chiefs who cast ballots in Wednesday’s vote. “My mind was made up even before we came here,” he said. “We sat through and listened to the all-candidates forum and that only emphasized that we would keep our minds set.”
Atleo has been criticized by some for being too soft with the federal government but with Wednesday’s victory it’s clear that Atleo not only has the support of Tla’amin’s own chief, but from hundreds of others across Canada.
In his acceptance speech, Atleo vowed to pressure the government to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. He also said he plans to continue to focus on education and economic development as top priorities.
