A new day, a new way, with Canada, promises Bellegarde

The new national chief for the Assembly of First Nations has put Ottawa on notice.

In his acceptance speech, Perry Bellegarde said, “Business as usual…that is not on. First Nations people will oppose any development which deprives our children of the legacy of our ancestors. We will no longer accept poverty and hopelessness while resource companies and governments grow fat off our lands and territories and resources. If our lands and resources are to be developed it will be done …. on our terms and our timeline.”

Bellegarde took the election in a single ballot, believed to be the first time a national chief has been elected in only one round.

In 2009, the first time Bellegarde challenged for the position, he conceded to Shawn Atleo after a record eight ballots. Bellegarde did not run again in 2012. Atleo stepped down in May 2014 midway through his second term amidst criticism of his support of the First Nations federal education legislation and allegations of being too cozy with the Harper Conservatives.

Bellegarde, who served as AFN Saskatchewan regional chief and head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations at the time of the election, garnered 291 of the 464 votes cast.

Interim national chief and regional chief for Quebec and Labrador Ghislain Picard was second with 136 votes. Leon Jourdain was a distant third with 35. One ballot was spoiled. To win, a candidate had to claim 60 per cent of the votes cast.

With 639 First Nations eligible to vote, almost one-third of chiefs decided not to participate.

But Tsilhqot’in First Nation Chief Roger William, who seconded Bellegarde’s nomination, is confident that Bellegarde can rally the chiefs.

“For First Nations it’s trust. We all have a trust issue and by all rights … and we need to build that and Perry’s going to build that. I feel that he’s won right across this country,” said William.

Picard was conciliatory in his remarks, echoing Bellegarde’s comments that “it is now time to close the circle, work in unity and take on the challenges facing us for the best interest of the people we serve across the country.”

Picard instantly made his way to Bellegarde after chief electoral officer Loretta Pete Lambert announced the results. Picard’s supporters, who had blue scarfs draped around their necks, sat quietly. Picard and Bellegarde hugged.

Picard admits he was shocked by Bellegarde’s decisive victory.

“The results, I think very humbly, caught everyone by surprise,” he said, noting that the “expectations of many in the room” was that the decision would take at least two ballots.

Jourdain did not share Picard’s approach to losing. Instead, he blasted chiefs for not embracing his vision and for buying into the “corporate world” and sacrificing the generations to come.

“But the decision you made today with your eyes open, I have to respect that. But I also know that that road has led us nowhere,” Jourdain said. “For those …on the road of our own demise, this will come and haunt us all.”

Jourdain said that Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be celebrating Bellegarde’s win.

But Bellegarde made it clear in his victory speech that the relationship First Nations have with the federal government and the provinces would be changing.

“To Canada we say for far too long we have been dispossessed of our homelands and the wealth of our rightful inheritance,” he said. “Canada, it’s Indian land. This is my truth. And this is the truth of our peoples.”

Along with warning the federal government that its policies from now on had to reflect Aboriginal rights and title, Bellegarde outlined three other priorities: continuing to push for a national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls; developing a national Indigenous language revitalization strategy; and amending the AFN charter.