By Canadian Press

NewsAlert: Perry Bellegarde new AFN chief

Dec 10, 2014 | 12:39 PM

WINNIPEG – Saskatchewan’s Perry Bellegarde is the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Bellegarde took 63 per cent of the 464 first-ballot votes cast in Winnipeg Tuesday.

Ghislain (Zhis-LAYN’) Picard, the assembly’s interim leader, finished second.

Leon Jourdain, chief of the Lac La Croix First Nation in Ontario, finished third.

Bellegarde, who is chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, ran a campaign that focused on a pledge to restore pride among First Nations and focus on self-determination.

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Bellegarde will have an extra six months added to his three-year term as the organization restructures amid questions about its relevance.

Many argue the assembly should wean itself off federal funding, while others have argued it doesn’t reflect the views and concerns of grassroots people.

“Humbled to have been elected national chief of the Assembly of First Nations,” Bellegarde tweeted after the announcement was made. “Onward together.”

The AFN’s top job came open earlier this year when former national chief Shawn Atleo resigned due to fallout from his support of a controversial federal act to reform First Nations education.