Sheila North announces candidacy for national chief of Assembly of First Nations

OTTAWA — Sheila North, a former grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, has announced her bid to become the next national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

“I think it’s time to take the Assembly of First Nations back to the chiefs of Canada, because it’s their organization,” she said at a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday. 

“Chiefs don’t work for the AFN — the AFN should work for the chiefs.”

North is an advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women, a former journalist and a member of Bunibonibee Cree Nation.

She told reporters that she has the right qualifications, training and people around her to become the next national chief, and she has received endorsements from Bunibonibee Cree Nation Chief Richard Hart and others across the country.

North is currently working with the International Commission on Missing Persons, which is consulting with Indigenous communities that are interested in searching for unmarked graves near former residential school sites. 

She said she would continue in the role, which involves helping the group to facilitate community engagement sessions, if she is elected. But she would make changes to make sure that the work is not hampered by her new gig, she said. 

The upcoming election comes after the dramatic ouster of former national chief RoseAnne Archibald, who was voted out after colleagues accused her of creating a toxic work environment — an allegation she continues to deny.

The deadline for nominations in the contest is Nov. 1, and the vote is set to occur on Dec. 6 during a special chiefs assembly in Ottawa.

David Pratt was the first person to announce his intention to run to be the new national chief in August.

Pratt currently serves as a vice-chief with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, an organization representing 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.

In his announcement, Pratt said the AFN is at a “critical juncture” and the election is about restoring and rebuilding the national organization.

His platform focuses on unity and inclusion, reconciliation and rights, economic empowerment and environmental stewardship.

Manitoba regional chief Cindy Woodhouse, the lead Assembly of First Nations negotiator for a landmark child-welfare settlement passed this week, announced her candidacy earlier this month.

Woodhouse said that growing up in Pinaymootang First Nation, she saw a disparity between her community and non-Indigenous communities. As a result, she said, she is devoted to making the lives of First Nations people more equal.

In announcing her bid, she said that one of her first priorities would be to work on First Nations policing, saying that communities are facing many challenges and Ottawa isn’t listening enough.

Woodhouse also said that she is a “bridge-builder” who would work on renewing and strengthening relationships federally and provincially.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023.

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press