This is the first National Chief who has brought federal cabinet ministers to our AFN assemblies, and to speak with the Chiefs, on a consistent basis. Perry Bellegarde’s ability to set up these direct discussions has had many positive effects. Not the least of these is the ongoing co-development of an Indigenous Languages Act. This is an historic moment for all of us as we revitalize and protect one of our most precious aspects of nationhood – our First Nations languages.

As National Chief, Perry Bellegarde has made the Assembly of First Nations a more united and effective organization for our Chiefs. His dedication, his tenaciousness, and his thorough understanding of the priorities – both nationally and right at home on our First Nations – enable him the balance to achieve results.

Perry Bellegarde has been a tireless advocate for First Nations peoples for many years. He has worked diligently to have our Inherent Rights and Treaties recognized and implemented, and to ensure our people take their rightful place throughout our ancestral lands and waters. His unique ability to adapt and develop relationships with all levels of government, establishes him as the optimal leader of our people at the national level.

Perry Bellegarde is a very effective leader who brings people together. That degree of unity is exactly what we, as First Nations, need as we deal with so many significant issues that affect our people – language preservation and revitalization, rights implementation, education and health – the list goes on. Perry Bellegarde delivers and we need him to keep going.

I am supporting Perry Bellegarde because he has created such great momentum for First Nations people. He has been able to get a lot accomplished because he knows what it means to be a Chief, and he understands the issues our people are facing right across the country. We still have so much work to do to rebuild our Nations and I fully trust Perry Bellegarde to work on our behalf and to get the investments we need for our peoples.