RoseAnne Archibald

RoseAnne Archibald
National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
In office July 8, 2021 – June 28, 2023
Preceded by	Perry Bellegarde
Succeeded by	Joanna Bernard (interim)
Personal details
Born	1966 or 1967 (age 57–58)
Residence(s)	Ontario, Canada
Alma mater	Laurentian University[1][2]

RoseAnne Archibald is a Canadian First Nations advocate and politician who served as the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) from July 2021 to June 2023. She made history as the first female National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. However, her tenure ended in June 2023 when she was ousted following a third-party investigation into her leadership. Consequently, she became the first AFN national chief to be voted out of office.

Archibald was first elected as the chief of the Taykwa Tagamou Nation in 1990, being the first woman and the youngest chief to be elected, at the age of 23.^[3] She was the first woman and youngest Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief in 1991, and the first woman and youngest Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk Council in 1994. She became the first woman elected as Ontario Regional Chief in 2018.^[4] During this tenure, Archibald was the subject of an independent probe after AFN staff accused her of bullying and harassment.^[5] While the AFN deemed the allegations credible, Archibald maintains the probe was reprisal.^[6][5] On July 8, 2021, Archibald won the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations election on the second day of voting, after Reginald Bellerose, who was in second place, conceded.^[7]

Archibald was suspended as National Chief on June 17, 2022 over bullying and harassment allegations.^[8] The suspension came after she released a statement labelling the allegations a "smear campaign" and calling for an investigation into the AFN's conduct.^[9] She was reinstated on July 5, 2022, after a resolution to uphold her suspension was defeated at the AFN General Assembly.^[10] Third party investigators subsequently concluded Archibald breached the AFN's harassment policy, whistleblower policy and code of conduct.^[11] As a result, on June 28, 2023, AFN members voted 71 per cent in favour to remove her as national chief, effective immediately.^[11][12] On July 10, Joanna Bernard of Madawaska First Nation was appointed as interim national chief until a special chiefs' assembly is held in December.^[13]

Archibald was succeeded by AFN Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, who was elected national chief in December 2023. ^{[14] [15]}

Awards and recognition

• Toronto Star 20 Ontario Vaccine Heroes^[16]
• Maclean's Magazine Power List: 50 Canadians shaping how we think and live^[17]
• The Hill Times 100 most influential people to watch in federal politics^[18]

References

1. "Pacific Business & Law Institute - Vancouver, BC - Indigenous Issues: On the Move! 2019". www.pbli.com. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
2. "RoseAnne Archibald becomes first woman to lead Assembly of First Nations". Capital Current. 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
3. "Roseanne Archibald elected 1st female national chief of Assembly of First Nations". CBC News. July 8, 2021.
4. "NAN Congratulates RoseAnne Archibald as First Woman Assembly of First Nations National Chief". Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
5. Forester, Brett (2021-07-08). "RoseAnne Archibald elected AFN national chief, first woman to hold role". APTN News. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
6. Chase, Steven; Kirkup, Kristy (2021-02-19). "Target of AFN harassment probe says she's facing reprisal for demanding more fiscal accountability". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
7. Wright, Teresa (2021-07-08). "RoseAnne Archibald first woman to lead Assembly of First Nations as national chief". CTVNews. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
8. "AFN suspends national chief over public statement; investigation into complaints underway". CTVNews. 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
9. Raycraft, Richard (June 17, 2022). "Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald suspended". CBC News.
10. "AFN delegates vote overwhelmingly in support of embattled national chief". British Columbia. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
11. "RoseAnne Archibald ousted as AFN national chief following investigation into her leadership". CTVNews. 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
12. Hager, Mike; Fiddler, Willow (29 June 2023). "RoseAnne Archibald ousted as Assembly of First Nations national chief". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
13. McFadden, Maeve (10 July 2023). "Joanna Bernard of Madawaska First Nation appointed interim national chief of AFN". CBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2023. Bernard replaces RoseAnne Archibald who was ousted in June
14. CBC News (July 8, 2022). "RoseAnne Archibald elected national chief of Assembly of First Nations". CBC News.
15. "Cindy Woodhouse elected new AFN national chief". CityNews Toronto. December 7, 2023.
16. "20 people who took on the biggest job of the pandemic and helped Ontario get its shots | The Star". www.thestar.com. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
17. "The Power List: 50 Canadians who are forging paths, leading the debate and shaping how we think and live". Maclean's. February 10, 2022.
18. "Post-election heavy hitters: the top 100 most influential people to watch in federal politics in 2022". The Hill Times. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-05-20.