Perry Bellegarde is the new chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
The Little Black Bear First Nation member and FSIN leader captured the title on the first ballot defeating challengers Ghislain Picard and Leon Jourdain.
A wild cheer erupted from the crowd when chief electoral officer Loretta Pete Lambert announced the results, which showed Bellegarde capturing 63 percent of the vote.
He collected 291 votes while Picard finished with 136 and Jourdain with just 35.
Bellegarde was immediately mobbed by his supporters, some of who were still wearing his campaign’s yellow t-shirts.
Picard thanked everyone in attendance saying it had been a good race and it was time to “close the circle” at the AFN.
He also described Bellegarde as a friend and wished him well.
Jourdain was less conciliatory in his remarks, saying he thought voters had chosen the corporate world over the grassroots’ wish to rebuild the organization.
“Tomorrow the Prime Minister will be celebrating,” he told the crowd, “but the message to you is that I will not die here…I will push this vision in the name of what is right for our people.”
Bellegarde donned the headdress of the AFN and was formally sworn in.
He was also presented with a staff from the B.C. Chiefs to serve as a reminder about the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
The women’s commission gave him new moccasins to assist him in walking forward.
“We expect them to be dirty and well-worn when they are returned,” said one of the women presenting the gift.
An honour song was also played and Bellegarde walked the hall in a circle with the other leaders trailing behind him.
“For me, it’s a very humbling experience,” he said addressing the crowd and thanking Picard and Jourdain for their energy and passion. “And so I want to say first off, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work, let’s give something back to our people.”
The FSIN Chief cited the need to focus on the grassroots, missing and murdered Aboriginal women and reconciliation within the AFN as some of his top priorities.
Bellegarde also took time out to acknowledge his family and his nominator Chief Roger Williams of the Tsilhqot’in First Nations in B.C. whose community challenged the B.C. government over Aboriginal title.
The case made its way to the Supreme Court where it was determined that semi-nomadic Indigenous nations could claim a land ownership right or something akin to it through this concept of Aboriginal title.
Experts differ over what impact the ruling has outside of B.C., which has no numbered treaties.
However, many believe it will affect the understanding of Canadian Aboriginal law.
“We lift up Chief Roger Williams as Indigenous peoples for what he’s done, not just for the Tsilhqot’in Nation but for all of us,” said Bellegarde.
He added there were over 58 different nations or tribes across Turtle Island who all had the right to self-determination.
Bellegarde then detailed the need for unity within the AFN.
“When we move forward now, I said this six years ago, I’ve said this at every election, whether it’s at the reserve level, tribal council level, the election is done, it’s finished, now let’s bring our people back, let’s bring our circle back, we need the energy and strength of everyone in this room…I ask for that in a humble way, a respectful way, let’s bring that circle back,” he implored.
Bellegarde cited the need to amend the AFN Charter, work on inherent rights and the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women as issues he would tackle during his tenure as leader.
However, resource development was one issue he especially highlighted.
“First Nations people will oppose any development that 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,” he said.
For far too long, Aboriginal people have been dispossessed of their rights and inheritance and it needs to change, he said.