Vote marks new era for natives

This is big stuff for First Nations people -- kind of like the election of a prime minister, if you think about it.

When current AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine announced his retirement, many people were pretty deflated. Nobody likes to change leadership in times of economic uncertainty, and aboriginal people are no exception.

Fontaine was the most charismatic leader of our generation. He did much to raise the profile of the AFN and strengthen First Nations rights during his years in office. He leaves behind some big moccasins to fill.

So here's how it works. There are 633 First Nations in Canada that are recognized as members of the AFN. And the AFN says it represents the approximately 700,000 First Nation band members across Canada.

No, we don't get a direct vote for the AFN national chief, but we don't get to vote for the prime minister either. The way it works is actually similar to Canadian politics.

In Canadian politics we elect an MP in our community, just like a chief. Then the political party with the majority of MPs forms the federal government and puts its leader in the role of PM.

The AFN is similar, except there are no highly visible political parties. That's not to say that there aren't any divisions between the 633 chiefs. Instead of elected MPs, it's elected chiefs who cast a vote on who the national chief will be.

As for the candidates, the June 25 deadline for nominations has passed and five people have thrown their hats into the ring.

There's Shawn Atleo and Bill Wilson from British Columbia, Perry Bellegarde from Saskatchewan, Jean Beaucage from Ontario, and Terrance Nelson from Manitoba.

Atleo is an AFN vice-chief who may hold the king maker bloc in AFN elections -- the 200 plus B.C. chiefs. However, Wilson has decades of experience in B.C. politics, dealing with chiefs and the AFN.

Bellegarde is the former leader of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, with 20 years of political experience to draw from. Grand Chief Beaucage of the Union of Ontario Indians is one of the most vocal contenders, and may have the backing of the Ontario chiefs.

Nelson is the firebrand chief, who's the most radical of the bunch. Will that translate into votes?

My guess is the race is between Atleo and Bellegarde, the two younger candidates of the pack. These two are technically savvy -- as is Nelson -- and have set up websites, Facebook pages, Twitter and YouTube videos.

Of course, my guess could be totally wrong. And that's the beauty of the AFN election. Nobody knows for sure until the ballots are counted.

To run for AFN national chief you need to be of First Nations ancestry, 18 or older, the band member of a First Nation in good standing with the AFN, and have gathered up 15 endorsements from eligible First Nations chiefs.

The rules of the election are straightforward: The first candidate to receive 60 per cent of the votes from registered votes will become the new AFN national chief.

I've been to a couple of AFN elections, and plan to go to this one too. It's the end of an era with Fontaine stepping down. And it's a spectacular event. If you are an aboriginal person, you should attend an AFN election at least once in your life.

Along with all the political excitement that keeps you guessing, there's that feeling of pride that sweeps through the room when a new chief is elected. It's a time of celebration.

Colleen Simard is the publisher of Urban NDN.

colleen.simard@gmail.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 4, 2009 A15