Assembly of First Nations elects new National Chief – and PSAC was there!
The AFN held their Annual General Meeting last week, with close to 600 chiefs from across the country making the journey to Calgary. The highlight of the three day event was the election of the new National Chief, Shawn A-in-Chut Atleo. Mr. Atleo, a hereditary chief of the Ahousaht First Nation, a small Vancouver Island band, was the eventual winner following a grueling eight ballots. He won out over Perry Bellegarde, the former leader of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Atleo replaces retiring National Chief Phil Fontaine.
The PSAC's participation was an extension of the work our union has been doing in support of Aboriginal issues, through our Aboriginal members. Most recently, PSAC helped to organize the June 11th National Day of Reconciliation, marking the first anniversary of the federal governments' apology to residential school survivors.
Equal Opportunities Committee Aboriginal Rep Tanna Pirie-Wilson and Regional Vice-President for the North Jean-François Des Lauriers present newly elected AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo with a PSAC jacket.
EOC Aboriginal representative Tanna Pirie-Wilson and REVP for the North Jean-François Des Lauriers were set up in the Trade Show portion of the convention, meeting with Chiefs, elders and other Aboriginal leaders. “
It was a great opportunity to showcase the work that our union has been doing to support Indigenous struggles,” said Des Lauriers. “Many chiefs were glad to learn that they have an ally in the labour movement,” he added.
“We participated as observers in other parts of the meeting, including resolution debates and workshops on various topics,” said Pirie-Wilson. “The whole process is not unlike the way our conventions work.”
PSAC National President John Gordon has written a letter of congratulations to Atleo, offering the PSAC's continued support on issues such as the right to self-determination, access to clean drinking water for many First Nations and fighting for an end to Aboriginal poverty.
Date Modified : 2010/07/29
