Shawn Atleo becomes National Chief to the Assembly of First Nations
Shawn Atleo, the hereditary chief of the Ahousaht nation on Vancouver Island, was elected July 23rd as National Chief of Canada’s Assembly of First Nations. The new chief campaigned on a four-pillar strategy with emphasis on families and communities, treaties and rights, the economy and environment, and First Nation governance.
Chief Atleo is also Chancellor of Vancouver Island University. VIU president Ralph Nilson told The Globe and Mail that the new national chief belongs to a generation of native leaders that will shape a new relationship with Canada. “These are young, bright, capable people whose mothers and fathers were impacted by residential schools, and they understand and respect that, but recognize they have to move beyond that,” Mr. Nilson said. [Source: Atleo’s tough first assignment, The Globe and Mail]
We speak with William Yoachim, executive director of Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services, who is also a board member at Vancouver Island University and a council member of Snuneymuxw First Nation.
