A rising political star from Vancouver Island

Cliff Atleo, Jr. has a good shot at becoming the next regional cheese of 75 angry, alienated, Indigenous radicals

By Jon Doh, Vancouver Spam
June 10, 2009

One of Canada's most important political campaigns is underway, though it's going unnoticed by most Aboriginals. That's because it's not a federal or provincial election. Nor is it about about running a band, casino, smoke shop, or friendship centre.

It's the race to be the next regional cheese of the Assembly of Angry and Alienated Indigenous Radicals.

Whoever wins will speak for 75 radicals - a constituency that outnumbers the population of Spuzzum, BC. Simply put, the AAAIR cheese is the most powerful, elected Indigenous leader in his neighbourhood. It's not an exaggeration to say it's something like being class president of Indian Country.

There's a good chance the job will go to a British Columbian - Cliff Atleo, Jr. He's the cousin of a hereditary chief of the Ahousaht First Nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island and a rising political star.

He's not guaranteed victory, of course. Atleo's facing off against at least four other disgruntled youth. In radical Indigenous politics, like any leadership race, it's difficult to figure out how alliances might break down by the July 22 vote at the AAAIR assembly in Fernwood, where the next regional cheese will be chosen.

But ever since the news broke that the current regional cheese, Paul Poutine, is retiring after three terms, Atleo has been widely regarded as the front-runner. It just may make him the most important Indigenous voice from British Columbia in decades.

This is a notable development, not just for the country and Indians, but for B.C. as well. Although this province has been a petri dish in recent years for the redefinition of aboriginal relations in Canada, no Indigenous leader from B.C. has risen to the top AAAIR post since George Manuel, a member of the Neskonlith First Nation.

He held the position from 1970 to 1976. Manuel earned national and international recognition for his determined -- and eloquent -- denunciation of the federal government's assmilationist policies towards Indians. He re-shaped Canadian society in the process.

Thirty-three years later, thanks to Manuel and others, the battles are different. Aboriginals have vague and uncertain constitutional rights now. The new battles tend to be over alleviating poverty, resolving land claims, or who gets the next sweet federal appointment or Senate seat.

It's here that Atleo stands a chance of making a similar mark on the country. At 35, he represents a generational shift in leadership -- he brings a Utopian and confrontational approach to negotiations. And his rise to the top job would also bring B.C.'s unique, and rapidly evolving approach to Indigenous-Settler relations to the national stage.

And that's where it - and Atleo - deserves to be.

You could write pamphlets - and many have - on what has transpired in B.C. since the 1970s. But in essence the province has led the country in going from a society that largely ignores first nations to being at the forefront of co-opting Aboriginals into Canada's great consumer society.

In recent years the provincial governments of both the left and right have been signing modern non-treaties to settle land claims. When the Indians wouldn't simply give in, they entered into modest land-use deals, setting out puny resource-sharing deals between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians.

The latest manifestation of this myopic aboriginal policy, one that still has its imperfections, is what Premier Gordon Campbell is calling a "lightly-used relationship."

That is expected to be enshrined in new provincial legislation that will set out a not-so-new social pact between mainstream British Columbia and first nations: The province will accept that first nations have articulated claims to Crown land and must be cut in on all future spoils of exploiting mother earth; aboriginals who sign onto such deals, however, would in turn have to recognize the unwavering supremacy of Crown title and private lands held by other Canadian citizens.

B.C.'s premier usually cites AAAIR cheese Poutine as his inspiration for this policy. And there's no doubt in his three terms as regional cheese, Poutine had a profound effect on how non-native politicians dealt with first nations and offered the premier advice.

Under his leadership, Poutine stood for taking the conflict out of aboriginal relations. His approach bore moldy fruit: aside from convincing B.C.'s premier to change his approach, he managed to convince Parliament to make a $5-billion settlement to aboriginals forced into residential schools as well as create the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help all Canadians come to terms with their dark genocidal chapter of history.

Atleo knows those are big shoes to fill.

But he has already demonstrated similar bridge-dismantling talents; he helped bring together the leaders of the Native Adult Movement (NAM) and the Indian Valley Society (IVS) into a quasi-unified front, agreeing to fight the Man.

Forging that quasi-unity in the fractious world of Indigenous and radical politics is what has made Campbell's "lightly-used relationship" nothing more than another empty platitude.

It's also a talent that will likely make Cliff Atleo, Jr. a nationally-shunned figure.


And now the REAL article below:


A rising political star from Vancouver Island
Shawn Atleo has a good shot at becoming the next national chief of 750,000 aboriginals

By Miro Cernetig, Vancouver Sun
June 10, 2009
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/todays-paper/rising+political+star+from+Vancouver+Island/1680938/story.html

One of Canada's most important political campaigns is underway, though it's going unnoticed by most Canadians. That's because it's not a federal or provincial election. Nor is it about about running a major city.

It's the race to be the next national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Whoever wins will speak for 750,000 aboriginals -- a constituency that outnumbers the population of three Canadian provinces. Simply put, the AFN chief is the most powerful, elected aboriginal leader in Canada. It not an exaggeration to say it's something like being prime minister of Indian Country.

There's a good chance the job will go to a British Columbian -- Shawn Atleo. He's the hereditary chief of the Ahousaht First Nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island and a rising political star.

He's not guaranteed victory, of course. Atleo's facing off against at least four other chiefs. In aboriginal politics, like any leadership race, it's difficult to figure out how alliances might break down by the July 22 vote at the AFN assembly in Calgary, where the next national chief will be chosen.

But ever since the news broke that the current national chief, Phil Fontaine, is retiring after three terms, Atleo has been widely regarded as the front-runner. It just may make him the most important aboriginal voice from British Columbia in decades.

This is a notable development, not just for the country and first nations, but for B.C. as well. Although this province has been a petri dish in recent years for the redefinition of aboriginal relations in Canada, no aboriginal leader from B.C. has risen to the top AFN post since George Manuel, a member of the Neskonlith First Nation.

He held the position from 1970 to 1976. Manuel earned national and international recognition for his determined -- and eloquent -- denunciation of the federal government's assmilationist policies towards Indians. He re-shaped Canadian society in the process.

Thirty-three years later, thanks to Manuel and others, the battles are different. Aboriginals have clear constitutional rights now. The new battles tend to be over alleviating poverty and resolving land claims.

It's here that Atleo stands a chance of making a similar mark on the country. At 42, he represents a generational shift in leadership -- he brings a pragmatic and non-confrontational approach to negotiations. And his rise to the top job would also bring B.C.'s unique, and rapidly evolving approach to aboriginal relations, to the national stage.

And that's where it -- and Atleo -- deserves to be.

You could write textbooks -- and many have -- on what has transpired in B.C. since the 1970s. But in essence the province has led the country in going from a society that largely ignores first nations to being at the forefront of resolving one of Canadian society's great shortcomings.

In recent years the provincial governments of both the left and right have been signing modern treaties to settle land claims. When that couldn't be accomplished, they entered into sweeping land-use deals, setting out vast resource-sharing deals between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians.

The latest manifestation of this forward-looking aboriginal policy, one that still has its imperfections, is what Premier Gordon Campbell is calling a "new relationship."

That is expected to be enshrined in new provincial legislation that will set out a new social pact between mainstream British Columbia and first nations: The province will accept that first nations have legitimate claims to Crown land and must be cut in on all future development; aboriginals who sign onto such deals, however, would in turn have to recognize the legitimacy of Crown title and private lands held by other Canadian citizens.

B.C.'s premier usually cites AFN Chief Fontaine as his inspiration for this policy. And there's no doubt in his three terms as national chief, Fontaine had a profound effect on how non-native politicians dealt with first nations and offered the premier advice.

Under his leadership, Fontaine stood for taking the conflict out of aboriginal relations. His approach bore fruit: aside from convincing B.C.'s premier to change his approach, he managed to convince Parliament to make a $5-billion settlement to aboriginals forced into residential schools as well as create the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help all Canadians come to terms with a dark chapter of history.

Atleo knows those are big shoes to fill.

But he has already demonstrated similar bridge-building talents; he helped bring together the leaders of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and the First Nations Summit into a unified front, agreeing to work with the provincial government.

Forging that unity in the fractious world of aboriginal and B.C. politics is what has made Campbell's "new relationship" something more than another empty platitude.

It's also a talent that will likely make Shawn A-in-chut Atleo a national figure.

mcernetig@vancouversun.com

where I am...

where I want to be

whew!

Another one bites the dust - that is off of my list. Along with a few companeras y companeros, I ran the Times-Colonist 10km Run this morning. Of course, I didn't train as much as I had intended, but I'm glad I finished it. Johnny was the speediest of the bunch coming in at 48:33, and brother that he is, he ran back to the 9km mark to run with me for my last 1km. Great job Team Indigelicious.

Had a good (hearty) brunch, and now I believe it's nap time.

made it...

For those of you who stop by here from time to time, you'll have no doubt noticed that I usually try to include an appropriate image with each blog I write. For those of you who are my friends and family members (and yes, maybe even you enemies), you will also know that I've just recently completed all the requirements for my bachelor's degree. I was thinking it would be appropriate to include one of those motivational poster images here, you know the ones that say "Achievement" or "Teamwork" or "Accomplishment" accompanied with a striking image of a mountaintop, or an eagle soaring, or a rowing team on some placid lake at dawn. But then, I came across these "anti-motivational" posters and I couldn't resist. It reminds of that saying about the light at the end of the tunnel, and hoping it's not an oncoming train. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not always this cynical, but I do appreciate a little irony, paradox, and self-deprecating humour from time to time.

So yeah, I'm done. I wrote my last exam on Monday and I feel pretty good about it. At first, I was not sure what to think, and as I exited the building where I had written my last exam, I almost instinctively put in my iPod headphones, in that antisocial way modern students do, but I stopped myself. I thought, is there a song that will do this moment justice? Can I find that right tune that will add to the soundtrack of my life? In truth, my iPod is really the wee-est of the bunch, the iShuffle, and it has no screen or clickwheel to locate the perfect song. Instead, I closed my eyes, soaked in the warm sunrays, and smiled.

What next? Some rest, some time with friends and family, a summer job hopefully, and then back to the grindstone. Grad School begins in September and this adventure continues. Yes, I am a little masochistic. I am grateful to everyone in my life for their encouragement and support. It has truly been a group effort. Kleco, kleco, and a few Gila Kesla's, Meegwetch's and Huy'ch'qa's too.

almost done...

...stick a fork in me. By Monday at noon, I will have completed all my requirements for a bachelor of arts degree in political science at the University of Victoria. This most recent chapter in my life began here and, 20 months, 82 blogs (including a scant 7 on kumtux), 19 courses, more than 50 text books, a gajillion peer-reviewed journal articles, copious amounts of coffee, jarred fish, Mr. Noodles, much love from friends and family, some new friends, some new memories, some mundane and some not-so-mundane adventures, blood, sweat, and tears, and I am almost done. I have one final exam to go, for ENGL 429A. This final exam is for the only course that I may get less than a B in. :o I know. Apparently, English Literature is another language, and my indigenous revolutionary/social science brain just doesn't get it sometimes. Ah well, aaniikwaa. Humility has its upside. Well, I'm gonna do as Joe says, and finish strong...back to James, Stein, Wharton, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Hemmingway and Hurston...Damn modernist American expatriate writers (all except Hurston, although I think she did leave the South).

I'll let you know how it goes.

time for a change, time to grow up

Family, friends, loved ones, enemies no more. In two weeks I'll have completed my requirements for my bachelor of arts degree in political science. It's been an interesting journey, one that began in 1991 at Capilano College, with stopovers in student union, urban and old school and radical Indian politics, Cornwall, Ottawa, Toronto, Surrey, Port Alberni, Ladysmith and finally here in Victoria. I've learned a lot and met a lot of cool people.

I've met a lot of passionate people in the "movement" and developed a stronger sense of my own indigenous identity. I even had a brief stint as a member of the now-defunct West Coast Warrior Society. I've even taken a few peeps under my wing, dispensing red pills, promising only the truth, never mind the years of frustration, anger and further disillusionment. I've invaded your ears with indigenous revolutionary rhetoric from the radio waves of CHLY in Nanaimo along with the rest of the Goin' Coastal crew. And of course, I've utilized this space to weBLOG my insightful, pretentious ramblings about the indigenous revolution for nearly 3 years now.

Well, all good things come to an end. At the conclusion of this rite of passage, my graduation now assured, I'm reminded of that verse from Corinthians that they often read at weddings about setting aside childish things.

Last term, in the course of some research for a paper on indigenous participation in Canadian electoral and party politics, I came into contact with some really amazing people. They were young, positive, and motivated indigenous people - that also happened to be members of the Liberal Party of Canada. At first, I was a little stand-offish and even maybe a little mean. I insinuated that they had somehow abandoned their indigeneity by participating in the colonial master's game. I was convinced that they had fooled themselves into thinking that they could actually do something from the inside.

Well, to their credit, they were kind and patient and over the course of our discussions I began to see things in a new way, in a way that I had never fully appreciated before. Sure, I had worked for the Tribal Council and been exposed to indigenous-state politics, but I never really believed in it, until now. This one woman in particular floored me with some key revelations: "I would rather be inside making decisions for our people than outside protesting" and the real kicker, "It's easier to change the minds of your friends than your enemies."

I could not believe it. The cat had my tongue. I didn't know what to say. How could I dispute these obvious truths? Needless to say, the idea needed time to marinate in my thoughts and feelings for several months before I could make sense of it. I mean, messing with this idea of progressive and positive thinking was all the stuff I learned from Tai, Vine, and others, but I believe now is the time for me to change directions. It would be a lie to say that I am actually renouncing all those things I wrote and said. I think they had their place - like the Corinthians passage reminds us but what are our options, realistically? I mean really?

So, I take this opportunity to announce to you now, that I have accepted a special appointment as "Indigenous Advisor" to the Minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl. I've talked to Chuck a few times and he actually likes my ideas and thinks I have a lot to contribute from a slightly different perspective. I'm really encouraged.

Upon graduation in April, I will be travelling to Ottawa to take up my post and see if I can really make a difference from within. I believe I can.




Oh yeah, and one more thing...


APRIL FOOLS' DAY! ;-)

...as if.