Chiefs gather to elect national leader as AFN’s relevance questioned

WINNIPEG – Chiefs from across the country are gathering in Winnipeg to elect a new national leader for the Assembly of First Nations.

A three-day meeting starts Tuesday amid questions over whether the assembly is still a relevant voice for aboriginal people.

Alberta regional Chief Cameron Alexis said chiefs are to discuss restructuring the organization, including whether it should wean itself off federal financial support.

The AFN is still vital as a lobby group for First Nations interests, he said.

But Niigaan Sinclair, an assistant native studies professor at the University of Manitoba, said many feel grassroots concerns aren’t well represented.

The federal government needs the AFN more than First Nations people do, he said.

“The AFN has already lost much of the support of the grassroots,” Sinclair said. “It’s continuing to lose the support of chiefs now. For the most part, all of the young chiefs and aspiring leaders who are coming up … they see no interest in working at that level.”

That appears to be reflected in the number of people running for the AFN’s top job.

Former national chief Shawn Atleo resigned after coming under fire for his support of a controversial federal act to reform First Nations education. When Atleo ran for re-election in 2012, he faced seven other competitors.

This year, there are three names on the ballot.

Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, is vying for the top job, along with Ghislain Picard, regional chief for Quebec and Labrador. Picard became interim national chief following Atleo’s resignation.

Leon Jourdaine, chief of the Lac La Croix First Nation in northwestern Ontario, is also running.