Former Adams Lake Indian Band Chief Nelson Leon was not successful in his bid for leadership of the BC Assembly of First Nations.
Elected to the position was Chief Shane Gottfriedson who comes from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, formerly known as the Kamloops Indian Band.
Gottfriedson was elected BC Regional Chief on the first ballot, gathering 55 per cent of the vote.
Leon was one of four people vying for the position.
A news release notes that Chief Gottfriedson has served as the Tribal Chief for the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, which concentrates on advancing Aboriginal rights and title by focusing on unity and shared territory. It states he is also known as a strong advocate for the Douglas Reserve land claim and Indian Residential Day Scholars’ class action suit.
In addition, he has served on the Chief’s Governance Council, the Aboriginal Business Investment Council, Minister Polak’s Roundtable on Environment and the First Nations Gaming Commission.