Finding the balance, finding the unity

Shawn Atleo wants change and he wants it now.
After completing his traditional protocol in his home village of Ahousaht on B.C.'s West Coast, where he asked permission from his community to seek the nomination to run as a candidate in the upcoming election for Assembly of First Nations national chief, Atleo finds himself full bore into the campaign.
A-in-chut, Atleo's traditional name, means 'everyone depends on you.' He has long been revered as a rising national political star, and is known for his non-confrontational negotiation talents, which stem from his traditional teachings.
The job he is seeking involves challenging federal and provincial governments to recognize the rights of First Nations people, and battling to repair the injury left by the residential school system and oppressive legislation of the Indian Act.
He clearly defines the role.
"I think the office of national chief is as a core advocate and a facilitator. I do not see the position as the head of First Nations government. I see the job of national chief to support those chiefs (all Canadian Nations) in their efforts."
He says First Nations policy, when it comes to rights, will always be about balance.
Atleo believes that balance will provide for coexistence between First Nations traditional governance and contemporary political processes, and that will lead to healthier communities.
But bridging traditional ideals and a modern political system that was designed to keep First Nations divided and completely unrecognized as national partners is a major hurdle for the First Nations movement.
"This country will begin to realize its full potential when our people begin to implement our treaties, when we continue to practice our spirituality and our ceremonies, when we lead the way back to sustainable economies, an economy that considers the balance and health of Mother Earth," Atleo said.
The federal government still has an undignified, disrespectful, dismissive, core legal perspective that works against First Nations and pervades all policies in Ottawa, Atleo said.
First Nations will only begin to claw out from under government oppression if they challenge and conquer legislation and come together as nations.
"Until negotiations become a joint venture among nations and jointly pursue core policy changes in Ottawa, I'm afraid it's going to be very difficult to overcome them, he said of government policy.
"Our people need confidence that we can walk in both worlds and not lose our identity, but create jobs, pursue education and still be who we are as First Nations people."
Atleo said the rate and pace of positive change and policy must escalate, and it must change in a sustainable way rather than by conflict on the ground, like at Oka or with such protests as the Caledonia conflict.
"We can't lurch from conflict to conflict, and expect that's what's going to bring about the sustainable long-term change everyone desires," he said.
"I think the task at hand is really about uniting across the entire First Nations country and overcoming our internal divisions."
Atleo said it all starts with a national economic development action plan that is not only about relating to government programs and services, but seeks to create interregional First Nations trade, as well fostering the growing Aboriginal entrepreneurial spirit in our country.
"We need to overcome the two per cent funding cap that chiefs have been subjected to," Atleo said, calling it a very divisive piece of legislature.
"No other level of government has had to deal with the kinds of funding restrictions as First Nation chiefs and councils have had, and no other level of government has had to deal with the kind of non-recognition of jurisdiction that chiefs have had."
According to Atleo these same issues bridge into First Nations education and economic sustainability, which are still challenged by externally imposed legislation.
Atleo said First Nations education is not being supported to the extent that it must for First Nations to achieve fluency in traditional language and to be re-connected with culture, ceremony and family.
"If residential schools were something that under the guise of education hurt and separated and divided our people, then education must today be a tool that mends, that brings together, that heals, that makes sure we have language and culture," he said.
Atleo challenges Canadians to share the issues facing First Nations people, and urges the Prime Minister to follow through on the apology that was given last year in the House of Commons to residential school survivors for the flawed residential school system.
Atleo is meeting new and existing political challenges between the AFN and the federal government head on, as his name suggests, and would welcome the role as AFN national chief.
"For me, A-in-chut, it's about we have to care about ourselves and make sure that we are in balance, and that we carry out our responsibility in a respectful manner," Atleo said.