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FROM: THE MONTREAL GAZETTE NEWSPAPER WEBSITE
_http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=02fdef18-c894-413b-9cae-c
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Fontaine Struts His Stuff Leading To AFN Leadership Vote

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Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine
Photograph by : Dean Bicknell/Calgary Herald

Jonathan Fowlie, CanWest News Service; Vancouver Sun

Published: Wednesday, July 12, 2006

VANCOUVER - As he crested an escalator at Vancouver's Convention and
Exhibition Centre Tuesday afternoon, Phil Fontaine literally began to strut.
Hands swinging at his side, gate widened, brown penny loafers gingerly
swaying in rhythm Fontaine was on his game, and he knew it.
A frenzied reporter had been clinging to the 61-year-old's side for the past
10 minutes repeatedly asking why Fontaine should be re-elected to head the
Assembly of First Nations, and, it seemed, had just stumbled on a winner.
"(Your opponent) Bill Wilson says you're not aggressive enough," the reporter
had said, hoping for a good response before the brief interview was done.
A softball down the middle of the plate, Fontaine seemed to think as his lips
pulled into a wry smile; That's when he began to strut.
"Sealing the deal on a $4.5-billion deal on residential schools, I think,
speaks on our ability to negotiate and to be as tough as necessary," Fontaine
said, referring to a recent compensation package he has called the "crowning
achievement of the last three years."
"Good work quite often doesn't garner the same kind of headlines as the
rhetoric," he added, hoping to push his steak-over-sizzle approach once more
ahead of today's vote.
Fontaine lost re-election as head of the AFN to Matthew Coon Come in 2000
after he faced criticism for being too close to the federal Liberals. This time
around, Fontaine is again the incumbent and is again facing criticism.
His opponent has said Fontaine is "too cosy" with the federal government, and
has upheld that the Conservatives' disinterest in a crucial accord signed
with the Liberals in Kelowna, B.C., means it's time for new leadership at the
AFN.
Signed last November, the Kelowna accord set out a $5.1-billion plan to
improve the lives of First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.
That deal has fallen by the wayside, however, with the arrival of the new
Conservative government. Fontaine said he is hopeful a deal will come with time,
and that the best way to get results is to keep a consistent voice in front
of government.
"There's a lot of unfinished business," he said Tuesday. "I believe given
what we were able to accomplish over the past three years, there is a need for
continuity. The fact of the matter is we have a plan, it's on the table and
it's the best option (for) this country."
Born on the Sagkeeng Anishinaabe First Nation, Fontaine became a chief the
age of 27. In 1991, he was elected grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba
Chiefs, and in 1997 he was elected as national chief of the AFN.
Defeated after one term at the AFN by Coon Come in 2000, Fontaine returned as
national chief in 2003.
As he runs for his third term, Fontaine says he is hopeful to continue the
work he has already started.
"It's probably the best job in the country because you are afforded an
opportunity to do things that are of critical importance to our people," he said,
citing everything from treaty rights to economic development.
On Tuesday, however, Fontaine had little time to expand on the details. After
swatting away criticism about being too soft, Fontaine headed off to make a
pitch to the chiefs from Manitoba, in the hope he could lock up more support
ahead of today's vote. More than 630 hereditary chiefs are eligible to vote
in today's contest. The winning candidate must receive the votes of 60 per
cent of the chiefs registered.

Echoing in the air behind him was a clear message about why Fontaine thinks
he is once again the right man for the job.
"We have a significant track record," he had said not long before leaving. "I
am going to ask the chiefs to renew my mandate so we can finish the job we
started three years ago."
jfowlie@png.canwest.com
Vancouver Sun
© CanWest News Service 2006

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