AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald attends a commemorative ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. She has been removed from her position following a vote at a special chiefs assembly. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA – RoseAnne Archibald has been voted out as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations after more than a year of turmoil involving her leadership.
The vote took place during a special chiefs assembly that was convened in part to address the implications of a human resources investigation related to complaints that AFN staff had filed against Archibald.
The resolution to oust her as national chief, just over two years after she became the first woman to serve in the role, passed with support from about 70 per cent of those who took part in the virtual meeting.
The infighting at the national advocacy organization for more than 600 First Nations played out in public last July at a gathering in Vancouver, when Archibald showed up despite having been temporarily suspended.
After chiefs voted down an emergency resolution to affirm her suspension, Archibald expressed her gratitude, alleging she was unfairly suspended because she had been trying to investigate corruption within the assembly.
The AFN says the top post will be vacant until an interim national chief is selected from the executive committee, and that an election is set to take place during a special chiefs assembly in December.
“We look forward to getting back to the important work of advancing First Nations priorities and acting on behalf of the best interests of our communities,” Paul Prosper, the assembly’s Nova Scotia regional chief, said in a statement.
“We extend our best wishes to RoseAnne Archibald in her future endeavours.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2023.
