Three candidates speak passionately at national chief debate – Winnipeg Free Press
Nov 6, 2014
The three candidates vying for the for national chief of the Assembly of First Nations made their pitches Thursday night.
Perry Bellegarde, Ghislain Picard and Leon Jourdain each spoke passionately and in several languages in 15-minute speeches to a crowd of about 100 gathered at the Holiday Inn Winnipeg Airport Hotel. The event was also broadcast on the web.
The national chief position was vacated by Shawn Atleo last May when he resigned.
The election will take place Dec. 10 at an AFN Special Chiefs Assembly at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg. Chiefs from over 600 First Nations are eligible to cast ballots and the new leader must win 60 per cent of the votes. The term for the national chief is 3 1/2 years.
