P.E.I. to get regional chief at AFN
National assembly votes in favour of giving province a seat at the table
The Assembly of First Nations will be adding a seat for P.E.I. within its top decisionmaking body.
On Tuesday night, the national assembly of chiefs, who gathered for a virtual convention, voted to grant P.E.I. a regional chief position. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), which advocates on behalf of chiefs from across Canada, is currently governed by a national chief and 10 regional chiefs, who represent most provinces and territories.
P.E.I. has been represented by a regional chief from New Brunswick.
Lennox Island First Nation Chief Darlene Bernard said most chiefs voted in favour of the P.E.I. resolution Tuesday night, by a margin of 81-28. There were six abstentions.
“What I think it means is that we will have representation at the executive table at the AFN," Bernard told The Guardian.
"We are very progressive, I
think. And we really do need to have our own voice, from P.E.I., at that table.”
Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould said a similar resolution was presented to the AFN 16 years ago but was ultimately unsuccessful. Gould said leadership of both the Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations share many of the priorities of Indigenous leaders across the country, such as ensuring fishers are allowed to earn a moderate livelihood based on treaty rights. But Gould also said P.E.I.’s priorities have sometimes been distinct from those of the regional chief from New Brunswick on issues like education or economic development.
“New Brunswick has a large forestry mandate, and the regional chief over there is pressured to address that. He doesn’t have the time to come over to P.E.I. and address our tourism and fishing industries,” Gould said.
Both the Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations have a relatively stable relationship with the provincial government. This has sometimes meant Gould and Bernard have accompanied Premier Dennis King on meetings with regional or national leaders. But Gould said it has been “a little disheartening” that they have attended national meetings of premiers but have not had similar access to top leadership at the AFN.
A regional chief in P.E.I. will be a full-time leadership position. The role could also involve additional resources allocated to P.E.I.
Both Gould and Bernard said they will consult with the AFN national executive on the next steps to select someone for the position.
“Anyone who is interested could put their name forward,” Bernard said.
The addition of a new regional chief could create complications for the AFN, said New Brunswick regional chief Roger Augustine, who has represented P.E.I. for decades.
Augustine said he has heard “some tinge of whispers” from chiefs in other parts of Canada about the Tuesday night vote. Some feel that more populous regions should be represented by more than one regional chief.
“This is going to create a domino effect right across the country,” Augustine said.
“British Columbia has over 200 communities. And they only have one regional chief.”
Augustine said it was likely Newfoundland, which is currently represented by a regional chief in Nova Scotia, will ask for its own executive position. B.C. chiefs could also request a second position.
But Augustine said he understood the position of both Gould and Bernard.
“I knew it was coming. Kind of surprised me that there wasn’t more discussion on it, though, yesterday,” Augustine said.