OTTAWA — Amid rising discontent among aboriginal grassroots and dissension in the ranks of Assembly of First Nations chiefs, National Chief Shawn Atleo is stepping briefly aside for health reasons, he announced suddenly Monday.Atleo, who was visibly thinner and pale last week, is not quitting the job but suggested the stress of the past weeks has taken a toll. B.C. regional chief Jody Wilson-Raybould confirmed Atleo had been battling a norovirus over the holidays, was not contagious, but not yet fully recovered.
In a statement released by the AFN, Atleo said he is following doctor’s orders in taking a break.
“I am proud of the support we received from First Nations citizens and chiefs across Canada, even during the most difficult days. There were many long conference calls, late-night meetings, and frustrations in the past two weeks. I regret to have to tell you that those long days have caught up with me. 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.”
Atleo said grassroots pressure and the “sacrifices made by Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence and her fellow strikers, and the work of many regional chiefs and the national executive of the AFN” were successful in seizing the attention of Canadians and the Conservative government, and called for the work to continue in his absence.
Meanwhile, the Star has learned one of Spence’s companions on Victoria Island, Joseph Jean Sock, a Mi’kmaq from Elsipogtog, N.B., ended his hunger strike Monday and was returning home.
Neither Spence nor her team could immediately be reached for comment. Spence is in the 34th day of her fast, along with Manitoba Cross Lake elder Raymond Robinson, who began fasting about 10 hours after she did.
Atleo has been viewed as an intelligent and pragmatic counterpart for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to deal with, but efforts of First Nations to work with the federal government appeared to have stalled after last year’s aboriginal summit, as the government’s attention shifted to an aggressive resource development agenda and improving economic ties with China.
At a news conference in Montreal, Harper said he looked forward to speaking further with Atleo “when it is convenient for him to do so.”
Asked about concerns that the Idle No More protesters and chiefs threatening blockades could slow his resource development agenda, Harper said his government’s priority remains unchanged.
“Our priority as a government will be, this coming year, on the economy, will be creating the growth, creating good-paying jobs for Canadians, and laying the groundwork for prosperity for all Canadians whether they’re aboriginal or non-aboriginal now and in the future generations.”
Atleo won re-election just six months ago as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and during his “brief absence” he named New Brunswick and P.E.I. Regional Chief Roger Augustine to step in and chair the organization’s national executive meetings.
Atleo gave no interviews Monday. “I will see you all very soon and will return reinvigorated and strengthened to work with you to drive this change together with all of you.”
New Democrat aboriginal affairs critic Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan), who has known Atleo since they worked together at the same organization in the 1980s, wished the national chief well.
“I just hope he’s getting the care and support that he needs.”
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Tonda MacCharles
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