SNC-Lavalin teams with First Nations group on proposed B.C. oil refinery

Former AFN ‘grand chief’ Shawn Atleo with his political master, PM Stephen Harper, looking on.

by BRENT JANG, The Globe and Mail, July 31, 2015

Engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is teaming up with a firm co-owned by a former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations for preliminary work on a proposed B.C. oil refinery.

A-in-Chut Business Group, jointly owned by Shawn Atleo, has formed a partnership with SNC-Lavalin to do pre-engineering studies for Pacific Future Energy.

Pacific Future Energy’s goal is to process tar-like bitumen from Alberta at a plant to be built near Prince Rupert, B.C., and export refined petroleum products to Asia by tanker. Company officials say the risk to the environment would be much lower than exporting bitumen in tankers.

Sudden resignation of Shawn Atleo cost AFN more than just its leader

Former AFN ‘grand chief’ Shawn Atleo with his political master, PM Stephen Harper, looking on.

By Steve Rennie, The Canadian Press/APTN National News, March 27, 2015

OTTAWA – Shawn Atleo’s abrupt resignation as national chief cost the Assembly of First Nations more than just its leader.

New documents show the federal government turned down the assembly’s request for an extra $324,000 to cover the unforeseen expenses that arose when Atleo quit his job last May.

Atleo stepped down amid fears that he’d become what he himself called a “lightning rod” for controversy as a result of having backed the Conservative government’s proposed reforms to First Nations education.

Pacific Future Energy recruits former First Nations chiefs to help launch project

Former AFN ‘grand chief’ Shawn Atleo with his political master, PM Stephen Harper, looking on.

BRENT JANG, The Globe and Mail, Dec, 10 2014

Pacific Future Energy has recruited two former national chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations to help launch a venture that is seeking to construct a $10-billion B.C. bitumen refinery.

Shawn Atleo has been named to the company’s management roster as senior adviser of partnerships for the project that wants to take bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands and convert it into refined products for export to Asia. And Pacific Future Energy appointed Ovide Mercredi to its advisory board.

“First Nations’ values and principles will shape this long-term vision and the potential for a new, more sustainable energy industry for all British Columbians and Canadians,” Mr. Atleo said in a statement released Wednesday by Pacific Future Energy.

Shawn Atleo appointed to lead new round of talks with B.C. First Nations

Former AFN ‘grand chief’ Shawn Atleo with his political master, PM Stephen Harper, looking on.

Former head of the Assembly of First Nations heads new Shqwi qwai for Indigenous Dialogue

CBC News, Oct 30, 2014

Former Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo has been named to head B.C.’s first Shqwi qwal for Indigenous Dialogue.

The announcement was made by B.C. Premier Christy Clark on Thursday at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, where the new office will be based.

Shqwi qwal means speaker in the Hulquminum language, and as its head Atleo will be expected to facilitate dialogue between B.C.’s First Nations, government and industry.

“The Shqwi qwal will develop and support dialogue sessions on education and other topics that will help foster understanding and partnerships between indigenous peoples and the broader public, private, and corporate sectors,” said a statement released by the premier’s office.

First Nations education bill ‘on hold’ after AFN chief Atleo quits

“Grand Chief” Shawn Atleo of the AFN with PM Harper during Crown-First Nations Summit, Jan. 2012.

Gloria Galloway, The Globe and Mail, May 5, 2014

The federal Conservative government is shelving its contentious proposal for revamping on-reserve education following last week’s resignation of Shawn Atleo as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

“With the support of the Assembly of First Nations, our government introduced historic legislation, the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act in April,” a spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said on Monday.

“However,” she said, “given the recent resignation of the national chief, following today’s second reading vote, any further consideration of this legislation will be put on hold until the AFN clarifies its position.”

Chief Spence ends fast as AFN national chief Atleo returns

Chief Spence (in red toque) and the media circus in Ottawa.

By Laura Payton, CBC News, Jan 24, 2013

First Nations leaders vowed Thursday to keep up the pressure on the federal government, as Shawn Atleo returned to work following medical leave and Theresa Spence left hospital following her six-week hunger strike.