Fontaine seeks re-election as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations

Phil Fontaine from the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba announced he will seek re-election as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Fontaine cited mounting pressure from chiefs across the country asking him to run again in this summers election of national chief.

Other challengers for the position of national chief have yet to come forward and will be faced with an uphill battle to un-seat National Chief Fontaine.

Chief Fontaine is seen as being instrumental in the negotiating of a residential school agreement that was endorsed by the previous Paul Martin government and a majority of past residential school students. It is believed that the new Stephen Harper government will honour the agreement.

Chief Fontaine also led First Nations discussions in the Kelowna agreement, which saw federal, provincial and territorial leaders agree to a $5.1 billion financial package designed to improve living conditions for Aboriginal people living in Canada. However, the Stephen Harper government has not openly endorsed all aspects of the agreement, and some Aboriginal leaders fear the Agreement, as it was originally negotiated, may now be in jeopardy.