APTN National News
Assembly of First Nations chief Shawn Atleo says he feels “reinvigorated” and is returning to work later this week.
Atleo said he is making good progress and thanked those that supported him.
“I am keen to return to my full duties reinvigorated later this week,” he said in a released statement by the AFN.
Atleo went on a doctor-ordered leave on January 14 and told those close to him he’d probably be off for about 10 days.
In his statement, Atleo said that Canada’s Indigenous population has reached a critical moment in its history.
“Recent events have helped to win our issues a higher priority among Canadians and with Canadian governments than at any time in recent years. The proud and determined voices of our peoples, their actions from coast to coast to coast have achieved this unprecedented attention,” he said.
Atleo said the AFN will “maintain this pressure on those governments.”
He said it’s important to remain united, however several chiefs have publicly said they don’t support Atleo or the AFN.
Manitoba chiefs are meeting this week in Winnipeg to discuss their options and have sent an invitation to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston to meet with them on January 24th.
According to a PMO spokesperson, the letter has been received but no response has been given as yet.
Atleo and several other chiefs and members of the AFN’s executive met with Harper Jan. 11. Further meetings are said to be coming.
Dear Mr. Atleo, As a proud native woman, I wanna wish you all the best! I am glad that you are feeling better! Traditionally, we are supposed to put total trust in our leaders and in their decisions! We trust that they will make the right decisions and do what is right for our ppl! It has been hard to trust anyone since all this sh*t started but as I was going through my facebook one day, there was a story that an elder had written about respecting our leaders and putting our trust in them! So, today, Shawn Atleo, I am putting all my trust in you sir! I will trust that you will make the best decisions for me, for my ppl, my children and my grandchildren! Please do us proud! Love and respect from myself and my family!