Shawn A-in-chut Atleo | |
|---|---|
| Ah-up-wa-eek | |
 | |
| National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations | |
| In office 2009–2014[1] | |
| Preceded by | Phil Fontaine |
| Succeeded by | Ghislain Picard (interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1967 [2] Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Spouse | Nancy Borsato (1986-2014) Heather Marie m.2017 |
| Residence(s) | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Alma mater | University of Technology, Sydney |
Shawn A-in-chut Atleo (Ahousaht First Nation, born 1967), is an activist and politician, a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Canada (serving 2009 to 2014).[1] He also has served since 1999 as a Hereditary Chief of the Ahousaht First Nation, part of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation based in British Columbia.
Atleo was born in 1967 in Vancouver, British Columbia to an Ahousaht First Nation family. He earned his undergraduate degree at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He traveled abroad for a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change (MEd) from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia.[3]
As an adult, Atleo became an activist for the rights of First Nations in Canada. He formerly served as Regional Chief (British Columbia) of the Assembly of First Nations. Since 1999 he served as a Hereditary Chief (Hiwilth) of the Ahousaht First Nation, which is part of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation.[3]
Atleo was elected as the AFN's National Chief on July 23, 2009, at the leadership convention. He defeated Perry Bellegarde (Little Black Bear First Nation) after eight rounds of voting.[4]
He was re-elected for a second term on July 19, 2012, in the third round of voting at the AFN's 2012 leadership convention.[5] He resigned from his position as AFN Chief on May 2, 2014, amid controversy over Bill C-33, the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act.
In 2008, Atleo was appointed as Chancellor of Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He was the first university chancellor appointed in the province's history who was of Aboriginal heritage.
Atleo has also served as executive director of a family addictions treatment facility and of an Aboriginal post-secondary training institute, Umeek Human Resource Development.[3] He participated in drafting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He also led a delegation to assist in rebuilding indigenous communities in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Atleo is a first cousin of Canadian electronic musician and producer Rhys Fulber. He is known for appearing on the Roadrunner United track "The End".[citation needed].