AFN

(Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde says thoughtful dialogue is the way through the frustration and anger many are feeling after the revelations of the past few weeks related to recoveries at residential school sites across the country. “As a Cree leader whose father and grandfather and several more family members attended Indian Residential Schools, I fully understand the frustration and anger many are feeling after the revelations of the past few weeks have laid bare the miseries of the Residential School system. These are tragedies of an almost unimaginable nature for most Canadians. We need to understand what happened and learn to speak openly about it. Destroying property will not help us build the peaceful, better and accepting Canada we all want and need. I believe in processes that unite rather than divide. Violence must be replaced by turning to ceremony and all that our old people taught us about peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. Thoughtful dialogue not destruction is the way through this.” The National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available for support: 1-866925-4419.

The AFN is the national organization representing First Nations people in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates. ―30― For more information please contact:

Kelly Reid Communications Officer Assembly of First Nations 613-292-0857 (mobile) kreid@afn.ca Lori Kittelberg Communications Officer Assembly of First Nations 604-340-3117 (mobile) lkittelberg@afn.ca

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chiefs-in-Assembly today elected RoseAnne Archibald as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations at the 42nd Annual General Assembly held virtually this week and hosted by Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississauga of the Credit in Ontario.

National Chief RoseAnne Archibald will address media at a virtual press conference Friday. DATE: Friday July 9, 2021 TIME: 10:00 a.m. ET LINK: Zoom meeting Meeting ID: 945 0354 3746 Passcode: 325580

In a “herstorical”/historical unprecedented election, National Chief Archibald was elected following five ballot results and after candidate Reginald Bellerose conceded and is now the first woman elected into the National Chief position. 406 Chiefs and proxies were registered to vote in this AFN election. 350 Chiefs and proxies voted in the fifth ballot. Seven candidates stood for election as National Chief.

Close to 2,000 First Nations leaders, Elders, women, youth and veterans from coast to coast to coast gathered virtually this week with the focus on honouring children lost to residential schools, maintaining momentum of recent progress on First Nations priorities and electing a new National Chief. The AGA concluded today. The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates. Contact information:

Lori Kittelberg Communications Officer Assembly of First Nations 604-340-3117 (mobile) lkittelberg@afn.ca Kelly Reid Communications Officer Assembly of First Nations 613-292-0857 (mobile) kreid@afn.ca