Native leaders, who are currently in Halifax, Nova Scotia at their annual meeting, will elect a new head of the Assembly of First Nations sooner than later.
On Tuesday, the chiefs decided to hold a leadership vote in December in Winnipeg, Manitoba rather than wait until July 2015 when a convention had been scheduled to elect a new national chief.
Supporters of the move said recent Supreme Court decisions affecting First Nations made filling the position imperative.
The chiefs must replace Shawn Atleo. He resigned in May over his support of the federal Conservative Party government’s efforts to reform on-reserve education.
The chiefs remain divided on the matter. Some see the bill as a government attempt to control aboriginal education. Others believe it`s a positive step towards helping First Nations children.
The chiefs were to debate education policies on Wednesday.
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