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Shawn Atleo

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Shawn A-in-chut Atleo
Ah-up-wa-eek
National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
In office
2009–2014[1]
Preceded byPhil Fontaine
Succeeded byGhislain Picard (interim)
Personal details
Born1967 [2]
Vancouver, British Columbia
SpouseNancy Borsato (1986-2014) Heather Marie m.2017
Residence(s)Vancouver, British Columbia
Alma materUniversity of Technology, Sydney

Shawn A-in-chut Atleo (Ahousaht First Nation, born 1967), is an activist and politician, a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Canada (serving 2009 to 2014).[1] He also has served since 1999 as a Hereditary Chief of the Ahousaht First Nation, part of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation based in British Columbia.

Early years

Atleo was born in 1967 in Vancouver, British Columbia to an Ahousaht First Nation family. He earned his undergraduate degree at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He traveled abroad for a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change (MEd) from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia.[3]

As an adult, Atleo became an activist for the rights of First Nations in Canada. He formerly served as Regional Chief (British Columbia) of the Assembly of First Nations. Since 1999 he served as a Hereditary Chief (Hiwilth) of the Ahousaht First Nation, which is part of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation.[3]

AFN leadership

Atleo was elected as the AFN's National Chief on July 23, 2009, at the leadership convention. He defeated Perry Bellegarde (Little Black Bear First Nation) after eight rounds of voting.[4]

He was re-elected for a second term on July 19, 2012, in the third round of voting at the AFN's 2012 leadership convention.[5] He resigned from his position as AFN Chief on May 2, 2014, amid controversy over Bill C-33, the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act.

Duties outside of AFN

In 2008, Atleo was appointed as Chancellor of Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He was the first university chancellor appointed in the province's history who was of Aboriginal heritage.

Atleo has also served as executive director of a family addictions treatment facility and of an Aboriginal post-secondary training institute, Umeek Human Resource Development.[3] He participated in drafting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He also led a delegation to assist in rebuilding indigenous communities in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Personal life

Atleo is a first cousin of Canadian electronic musician and producer Rhys Fulber. He is known for appearing on the Roadrunner United track "The End".[citation needed].

Awards and honorary degrees

References

  1. ^ a b "National Post".
  2. ^ Native Leaders of Canada - Shawn Atleo
  3. ^ a b c "New AFN chief from B.C. boasts resume of education and community work". Canadian Press, July 23, 2009.
  4. ^ "Atleo elected new AFN chief". The Globe and Mail, 23 July 2009.
  5. ^ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1228079--assembly-of-first-nations-national-chief-election-underway-in-toronto . The Star, July 18, 2012.
  • Imagining Canada - A Century of Photographs Preserved By The New York Times [1]
Academic offices
Preceded by
New position
Chancellor of Vancouver Island University
September 2008–2014
Incumbent