From now until July 7, APTN News will provide complete coverage of the election for National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
APTN will speak with all seven of the candidates about why they deserve the top job, plus analysts about the AFN and what direction it needs to take under a new chief.
The election will take place July 6 and 7 and APTN will stream both days live.
Meet the Candidates
APTN National News interviewed each of the candidates vying for the national chief’s position at the Assembly of First Nations. Learn more about each candidate and hear their plan if elected.
Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse
About
RoseAnne Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation has 31 years of experiences in First Nations politics.
She was the first woman and youngest Chief elected for Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN) in 1990 at 23 years of age. For the last three years, Archibald has been the Ontario Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
After 17 consecutive years of serving as Chief of Muskowekwan First Nation, Reginald Bellerose is putting his name forward as a candidate for National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Though he intends to address a myriad of issues, his top three campaign priorities will be Rights & Jurisdiction, Economic Sovereignty, and Health & Wellness.
Calahoo Stonehouse is Cree and Mohawk from Michel First Nation in Treaty 6 Territory and is the current executive director of the Yellowhead Indigenous Education Foundation.
She is a former band councillor and is the founder and producer at Miyo-Pimatisiwin Production.
Former Xakiji (Chief) of Tsuut’ina First Nation Lee Crowchild says he will bring “transparency” and “integrity” to the office of the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
“Got to be really transparent about everything, I never hid anything,” says Crowchild who was chief of Tsuut’ina from 2016 to 2019.
With over 25 years of leadership within Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), Alvin Fiddler was first elected Grand Chief in 2015 after serving several terms as Deputy Grand Chief and working on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Alvin Fiddler was born in Sioux Lookout and raised in Muskrat Dam First Nation.
Kevin is from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, a signatory to Treaty 5, located in northern Manitoba. Kevin T. Hart served as the Manitoba Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) of Canada from 2015-2021.
Kevin has been active in politics for the past 25 years. Prior to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), he worked at the provincial level for five years at the Manitoba Legislature as a Ministers’ Assistant.
Dr. Cathy Martin, Ed.D. is a Mi’gmaq Grandmother, who was raised and resided most of her life in the Listuguj First Nation.
Dr. Martin has a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Martin is currently an elected member of council for the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government; and has previously served for three terms – two of those terms she was elected Chief Councillor.
