National Chief Shawn Atleo gets his second mandate

 Incumbent Shawn Atleo is flanked by great aunts Flossie Atleo (left) and Gertrude Frank in Toronto Monday during voting for the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Photograph by: Michelle Siu , CP

By Teresa Smith, Postmedia News:
TORONTO — Chiefs from across Canada have given National Chief Shawn Atleo a mandate to continue his advocacy at the Assembly of First Nations for another three-year term.
"I believe that this is our moment," said Atleo after he was sworn in for a second term as national chief. "We are part of movement, not only in this country we call Canada, but indigenous peoples around the world . . . we will take our rightful place in our respective territories."
His strongest opponents, Dr. Pam Palmater and Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus, each drew support from other candidates forced to drop off the first and second ballot in an "Anything but Atleo" approach.
But in the end Atleo earned 341 votes — surpassing the required 60 per cent of the 540 votes cast. Palmater finished with 141 votes and Erasmus had 30.
They characterized his leadership as "too cozy" with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government, however, Chief Byron Louis of Okanagan Indian Band in British Columbia — a stronghold province for Atleo — dismissed those claims.
"If you're supposed to be an advocate, how can you spend most of your time arguing?"...Continue reading...