Candidates eyeing up AFN position

Though Phil Fontaine has not confirmed seeking an unprecedented fourth term as Assembly of First Nations (AFN) leader, he is already being challenged for the job.
Former AFN vice-chief for Saskatchewan Perry Bellegarde, 45, has stepped forward and is already making waves for openly promoting himself well before the 2009 election. He said he "will be taking a lot of chiefs for coffee" in Quebec City as the 600-member meets for its three-day annual meeting starting July 15.
"I think any organization is open for change, new ideas and new innovative ways of dealing with issues," he said.
Contributing to the early election buzz is a Facebook online forum called "2009 Assembly of First Nations National Chief Election." Other names circulating as potential challengers include Shawn Atleo, AFN vice-chief for British Columbia, and John Beaucage, grand chief of the Union of Ontario Indians. Atleo declined to say he is running, as did Beaucage.
According to Ajay Chopra, Fontaine's former senior advisor and campaign organizer, "The national chief has not publicly or privately indicated his intentions whatsoever. He will do so in due course."
Stewart Phillip, head of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said the leader has already sent mixed messages regarding his intent.
"(He) stated at the outcome of the last AFN election that this was going to be his final term." That said, there have been "rather high-profile fund-raising events" held in the past two years by the "Friends of Phil Fontaine," Phillip said.
Fontaine is riding high after the AFN's high profile multibillion-dollar settlement of the residential school student compensation package, and the historic apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
While Phillip believes "we (cannot) afford to continue with the status quo. The suffering in our communities is too great" because of increasing poverty, another source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Fontaine "has been a very effective national chief and I still support him 100 per cent. But at times we do need a change."
Fontaine, 63, was first elected national chief in 1997, capping a long career in Manitoba politics. He was defeated in 2000 by Matthew Coon Come, but easily won re-election in 2003 and 2006.