Canada's First Nations leader to speak

The leader of Canada’s indigenous population, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is set to address the University.

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo of Canada will speak on the rights of indigenous peoples in a public talk on Thursday 10 October.

The Royal Proclamation

His visit has been organised by the Centre of Canadian Studies, in association with the Global Justice Academy, to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation. Signed in 1763, the proclamation acknowledged the rights and land-claims of North America’s aboriginal population.

National Chief Atleo is elected by the 633 First Nations governments from across Canada and serves as a national and international advocate for the rights of Indigenous Nations and peoples.

First Indigenous Chancellor

National Chief Atleo is a Hereditary Chief from the Ahousaht First Nation, British Columbia. He was a participant in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

As Chancellor of Vancouver Island University, he is the first Indigenous Chancellor in British Columbia.

We are delighted to welcome the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations to Edinburgh, particularly at a time when the University is engaged in questions about global citizenship.