First Nations National Chief Atleo Steps Aside Temporarily

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

OTTAWA, CANADA – The Assembly of First Nations released a statement today from National Chief Shawn-A-in-Atleo, who is stepping aside temporarily for medical reasons from his post.

National Chief Shawn-A-in-Atleo

“This weekend, my doctor ordered that I take some time now to rest and recover and I have agreed with my family that I do this now,”

writes Chief Atleo.

“I ask that Regional Chief Augustine continue to chair and facilitate our National Executive meetings in my brief absence and that Regional Chief Bellegarde and Regional Wilson-Raybould continue the work they led this week on Treaty implementation,”

he continues.

Chief Atleo writes in the letter he is proud of the progress he and other Assembly of First Nations chiefs have made in dealing with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Last Friday, a group of some 20 First Nations chiefs met with Prime Minister Harper and members of his Cabinet to discuss important issues facing First Nations peoples, including the controversial Bill C-45 that was the impetus of the rise of the "Idle No More" movement and the hunger strike by Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence and other hunger strikers.

The statement does not specify what illness Chief Atleo has, nor exactly how long he will be away from his post.

Last week, a group of chiefs were angry that he attended the meeting with Prime Minister Harper and were said to be working to oust him from his position as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Chief Atleo is in his second three-year term as national chief of the organization. He was re-elected last July.

posted January 14, 2013 4:57 pm est