North Coast Review: Miles Richardson seeks top post as AFN convention gets underway in Vancouver

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Miles Richardson seeks top post as AFN convention gets underway in Vancouver

A name long familiar to Haida Gwaii and the North Coast is stepping back into the political forum this week, as Miles Richardson seeks the leadership of the Assembly of First Nations which is hosting its annual convention in Vancouver this week.

The Haida leader is looking to win enough support at the Vancouver event to take the national leadership post away from incumbent chief Perry Bellegarde.

The current leader has faced some criticism in the past for the nature of what say are chummy relations with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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As Richardson takes to his campaign in Vancouver, he can call on his long history in the region, serving as Past President of Haida Nation Council from 1984 to 1996, as well as from his membership with the BC Treaty Commission through the late nineties and into 2004.

He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has stepped into the political ring before, running as a former Liberal candidate for Skeena, during the Paul Martin era, recruited by the former Finance Minister as part of his unsuccessful quest to wrestle the seat away from NDP MP Nathan Cullen in 2004.

Haida leader Miles Richardson
is seeking the National Chief position
with the Assembly of First Nations

As part of his campaign for the AFN leadership Richardson has noted that he believes a fundamental change is required if First Nations are to be in control of their own future.

Interviewed for a profile piece in the publication WindSpeaker, Mr. Richardson offered up some of his beliefs on how First Nations and the Federal Government should approach the ongoing issues that they face.

“We need to regain sufficient control over our territories, over our lands and seas, our waters, over the social aspects of our lives. We need to regain sufficient control over these to be in charge of our own destiny. That’s why I’m running,” ... “I’m not a compromiser. I’m not going to compromise on that. I’m not going to give in because of the political pressures of being nice to Ottawa or funding levels or anything like that. Once our people set objectives, we’re all in on achieving them,”

Additionally he notes that he won't 'cozy up to the Trudeau government and observes that the main obstacle is how the Federal government addresses the rights of First Nations.

In the lead up to this weeks convention, Richardson, who is the only British Columbia participant in the leadership quest, has been lining up some strong support for his quest for the leadership position.

With a number of high profile First Nations representatives both nationwide and from the Northwest offering their endorsement of his efforts.

Making for a collection of names which would seem to make the Haida Nation leader a front runner should the convention choose to replace Mr. Bellegarde.

Among those also offering their support for Richardson's bid for the leadership is Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett of the Heiltsuk Nation, who notes how his life's work has been to lift the Nations in their reclamation of inherent right to self determination.