Shawn A-in-chut Atleo
National Chief
Assembly of First Nations

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is a Hereditary Chief from the Ahousaht First Nation. Shawn is supported by and gains strength from his partner of 23 years Nancy and their two adult children, Tyson and Tara. Traditional teachings guided A-in-chut to serve First Nations as a leader, negotiator, facilitator, mediator, strategic planner, and president of his family-owned private post-secondary training institute.

Shawn graduated in 2003 with a Masters of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of Technology, Sydney Australia (in partnership with University of British Columbia, University of the Western Cape South Africa, and University of Linkoping Sweden).

A-in-chut is a founding member of the BC First Nations Leadership Council. The council was formed when A-in-chut, as BC Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, along with the political executive of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and First Nations Summit, signed a historic Leadership Accord in March 2005, overcoming decades of discord in BC. This Accord calls on all three organizations to work together to protect the interests of First Nations in BC and to ensure that Aboriginal Title and Rights and Treaty Rights are recognized, accommodated and reconciled through government-to-government relationships.

In 2006, A-in-chut was elected to a second consecutive three-year term by the 203 Chiefs of BC. In his six years as Regional Chief, he made numerous contributions to the political field within his community, among First Nations, and in/between local, provincial, national and international levels. Some of his work at the national and international level has included International Relations participating in work on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Asserting Rights pursuing reforms to the comprehensive and specific claims processes, and National Fisheries coordinating fisheries policy change in both coastal and inland fisheries.

In 2008, A-in-chut's commitment to education was recognized in his appointment as Chancellor of Vancouver Island University, becoming BC's first aboriginal Chancellor.

A-in-chut is committed to continue working tirelessly for the rights and freedoms of his people.

(November 2009)