First Nations from Across the Country Elect Perry Bellegarde as Assembly of First Nations National Chief at AFN's 39th Annual General Assembly

VANCOUVER, July 25, 2018 /CNW/ - First Nation leaders from across the country today elected Perry Bellegarde as Assembly of First Nations National Chief at the AFN 39^th Annual General Assembly today being held in the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

National Chief Perry Bellegarde was elected on the second ballot with 328 votes out of 522 voters, and 63 percent of the vote. Five candidates stood for election as National Chief.

More than 2,400 First Nations leaders, Elders, women, and youth are gathered for the AFN's 39^th Annual General Assembly under the theme Working Together: Our Rights, Our Way, Our Future. The AGA continues tomorrow with discussion on priority matters and deliberation of resolutions to set national direction for the coming year. The AGA is being webcast on the AFN website at www.afn.ca

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations

Monica Poirier, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer at 613-292-0857 or [email protected]; Jenna Young Castro, AFN Communications Officer at 613-314-8157 or [email protected]