Buffalo River Chief Unimpressed with AFN Election

Buffalo River Chief Unimpressed with AFN Election

Thursday, July 17, 2003 at 14:00

A Northern Saskatchewan chief says yesterday’s result in the Assembly of First Nations’ chief election has him wondering about the need for the organization.

Buffalo River chief Elmer Campbell says the decision to bring back Phil Fontaine as national chief tells him that the AFN can’t seem to make up its mind about what it wants in a national leader. Campbell notes Fontaine lost to Matthew Coon Come three years ago because Fontaine was perceived to be too cozy with the federal government. Now, he says it appears the chiefs became dissatisfied with Coon Come because he was too confrontational.

Campbell says it might be time for Canada’s Indian chiefs to dissolve the organization.

For the record, Campbell says he felt Roberta Jamieson was the best candidate in yesterday’s election. He also says about a third of Saskatchewan’s chiefs voted for her on the first ballot, with about half choosing her on the second ballot.