New chief for AFN

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Matthew Coon Come will get his chance to prove he can make a difference for Native nations.

Elected after Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine, who was trailing 287 to 207 after the second vote, chose to concede rather than force a third ballot, the former grand chief of the James Bay Cree Nation will have a lot of work ahead of him if he is to accomplish his stated goals.

In his speech to the gathering of band council chiefs from across Canada on July 11, the evening before the vote, Coon Come railed against the previous three years' work of the incumbent. After questioning the strength of the support offered by the AFN on a number of issues, including the shooting of Dudley George and the actions of Revenue Canada in pressuring reserve businesses to pay taxes, he hammered one of Fontaine's proudest achievements, the government's apology for sexual and physical abuse in residential schools.

"I didn't accept the apology," Coon Come said. "It was like they committed adultery and they only regretted they got caught. If there really was an apology, the federal government would be asking for our forgiveness."

He aggressively challenged Fontaine's stated position that it is better to build bridges than burn them, saying Fontaine's approach of working in partnership with government had only encouraged the government to resist the kind of progress First Nations people need.

"Today, it is a one-way street," Coon Come said, referring to the government. "We give and they take."

Coon Come pledged to use the same tactics that worked so well for the James Bay Cree when they were battling the Quebec government over a variety of issues during his tenure: he will seek to embarrass and pressure Canada on the international stage and make use of his considerable skills as an orator to make his points inside Canada.

Fontaine spoke after Coon Come, no doubt sensing the closeness of the race and knowing a strong performance was essential to sway any undecided chiefs. Fontaine delivered a masterful performance.

He pointed to his accomplishments: the AFN/National Congress of American Indians summit in Vancouver last July, the Healing Fund, the statement of reconciliation and a host of others.

He took on Coon Come's assertions that he was too close to the government.

"There are those who say we're too cozy with government, that we're selling out. They're wrong. They couldn't be more wrong. We have never been afraid to take on the government," he said.

He asked the chiefs to allow him to "continue the momentum" rather than "start from the beginning." He claimed his experience would be preferable to electing a chief who didn't have national experience.

But the chiefs, by and large, didn't buy it. The two man race in the second ballot was created when Marilyn Buffalo, former president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, failed to garner even the votes of the 15 chiefs who signed her nomination papers.

She finished with 13 votes. According to AFN election rules, she was disqualified for that reason. Lawrence Martin, who gained only 26 votes, was dropped as the last place finisher and the race was quickly narrowed down to two candidates.

Coon Come won the first ballot with 244 votes to Fontaine's 202.

As the chiefs left the hall to caucus in tents outside the hockey rink in anticipation of the next round of voting, the candidates and their representatives made the rounds, meeting with regional groups and pleading their respective cases. The quest for the support of the eliminated candidates began even as they walked down the steps from the stage at the front of the hall after they had been presented with gifts to mark their candidacy.

Northwest Territories Vice Chief Bill Erasmus, a key Fontaine supporter, competed with Coon Come for a chance to talk with Martin and Buffalo.

Although it could not be confirmed, as they disappeared behind a curtain to meet out of the view of a horde of reporters, it appeardsome of the Martin's supporters in northern Ontario supported Fontaine. Buffalo declared her support for Coon Come almost immediately after she was knocked out of the race and lobbied on his behalf in the caucus tents.

In the British Columbia caucus, First Nations Summit and Union of British Columbia Indian Chief members sat side-by-side and listened to an impassioned plea for support from Coon Come. After he left, the chiefs seemed to be leaning towards throwing their support behind the James Bay Cree.

Grand Chief Edward John, a Summit Task Force member, suggested the B.C. chiefs should unite behind one candidate.

"There is a split amongst B.C. voters," he said. We know that. I believe we should decide who best reflects the struggle that lies ahead of us right now. In B.C. we need to start getting our voice back together."

Lake Babine Chief Betty Patrick, wearing a Coon Come T-shirt, asked where the AFN had been when British Columbia chiefs protested outside the provincial legislature on May 25.

"We need to come together and unify our voices because together we can move those mountains," she told the chiefs. "We all keep running to our different camps. That's what's defeating us in B.C."

The two organizations in the westernmost province, formerly bitter political foes, have recently united in protest of the British Columbia Treaty Commission process. Other British Columbia chiefs suggested that uniting to support one candidate would be a strong symbol of their unity in the fight for a better treaty process in their home province and an important step in the drive for a unified First Nation front in the region.

But one long-time Fontaine loyalist stated bluntly that he was sticking with the incumbent, no matter what.

"I've worked with Phil Fontaine for many years and he's a strong advocate of our rights," said Kamloops Indian Band Chief Manny Jules.

"In this next ballot, I'm going to vote for Phil Fontaine."

As the polls closed after the second ballot, asmling Fontaine entered the hall at the head of a long line of supporters who chanted, "We want Phil."

Within minutes, the AFN chief electoral officer, Bob Johnson, announced the results.

Coon Come had 58.1 per cent of the vote to Fontaine's 41.9 per cent. The election rules require that the winning candidate secure 60 per cent of the vote. But, minutes after the second ballot results were announced, Fontaine huddled with his supporters and then, despite the urgent pleas of many of them to stay in the race, he marched across the Ottawa Civic Centre floor to shake Coon Come's hand and concede the race.

"The chiefs of Canada were presented with a very clear choice," he said in his concession speech. "The chiefs of Canada have spoken. You have made your decision. It must be respected."

He emotionally thanked his supporters. "I told my supporters at the beginning that I wanted us to walk the high road and I believe we did. We must support the new national chief as he goes on to such an enormous responsibility."

He said he had dedicated his campaign to his late brother, Wally, who passed away a few months ago.

"I asked him at one time if he would be here for this," he said with great emotion, "and, of course, he was here."

Fontaine then left to take his place in AFN history (for at least the next three years) with a farewell to the assembly.

"I only hope I didn't bring dishonor to you. I love you all. Thank you very much."

Coon Come spoke of his respect for Fontaine's wisdom before he delivered his victory address. Then he sent a message of what will come in the next few months.

"People ask me if I respect the rule of law," he said. "I do respect the rule of law. Under the rule of law, this land is ours. Even under European law, this land is ours. The problem is this: I want Canada to respect the rule of law. I want Canada to respect its own law. I want Canada to respect the treaties, which are part of its law. I want Canada to respect the international treatis t has signed."

He spoke of pursuing a First Nations' agenda and then he turned to a point that was spoken of quietly but never became an issue on the election floor ? his religion. As a devout Christian, many chiefs wondered if he would champion Native spirituality.

"The heart of our people is in the diversity of our cultures," he said.

He then pledged to promote and protect freedom of religion and the freedom of people to practice traditional spirituality.