Francis Verreault-Paul, a member of the Innu community in Mashteuiatsh, has been elected as the new leader of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL). The 37-year-old won with 21 votes in a single round of voting held in Quebec City, securing approximately 58% of the vote from 36 out of 43 community chiefs. His closest competitor, Constant Awashish from the Atikamekw community of Opitciwan, received 11 chief votes, followed by Cathy Martin from Listuguj and Monik Kistabish with two votes each.
Verreault-Paul previously served as the chief of staff for Ghislain Picard, a prominent figure who held the AFNQL leadership for 33 years but chose not to run for reelection this year. The election campaign began on February 11 and involved four candidates, including Kistabish from the Algonquin reserve of Pikogan. The voting process, conducted by the Neashish and Champoux law firm, allowed each candidate 15 minutes to address the assembly before a one-hour polling session.
The election follows a period of strained relations between Picard and the Quebec government, with Picard criticizing the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) administration in various public statements. In a recent opinion piece and subsequent interviews, Picard expressed concerns about the government’s approach to Indigenous rights and characterized the CAQ as a “government of missed opportunities.” Despite the challenges faced, the new leadership transition signals a significant change in direction for the AFNQL.
