RoseAnne Archibald has become the first woman to be named the Assembly of First Nations national chief.

After five rounds of voting, only two candidates remained in the running, RoseAnne Archibald and Reginald Bellerose. The needed 60 per cent voting threshold still had not been met.  Shortly after the sixth round of voting got underway, it was announced that Bellerose had conceded and RoseAnne Archibald was named the new AFN national chief.

Archibald is from Taykwa Tagamou Nation, has 31 years of experience in First Nations politics, and spent the last three years as the Ontario Regional Chief.

Bellerose is from Saskatchewan and has served 17 consecutive years as Chief of Muskowekwan First Nation.

The role of the National Chief and the AFN is to advocate on behalf of First Nations as directed by Chiefs-in-Assembly.  This includes facilitation and coordination of national and regional discussions and dialogue, advocacy efforts and campaigns, legal and policy analysis, communicating with governments, including facilitating relationship building between First Nations and the Crown as well as public and private sectors and general public.