Cindy Woodhouse is new National First Nation Chief, Dean Sayers out in 2nd round
Voting for the new National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations has ended Thursday after six ballots the previous day and the second place finisher conceded, clearing the way for his opponent and frontrunner Cindy Woodhouse to take the position.
Cindy Woodhouse is the new National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations. Dec. 7/23 (Supplied)
A seventh ballot was scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, as neither of the final two candidates had reached the required 60 per cent of votes, but that was delayed.
Shortly before noon, David Pratt made a concession speech at the Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, clearing the way for his opponent and frontrunner Cindy Woodhouse to take the position as National Chief.
Former northern Ontario First Nation Chief Dean Sayers was one of six candidates, but he was eliminated after the second round of voting.
Sayers ended the first round of voting in the middle of the pack with 12.6 per cent of the vote, dropping down to 10 per cent in the second round.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
The assembly is being held in Ottawa --the unceded unsurrendered Territory of the Algonquin People.
Woodhouse is the Manitoba Regional Chief and Pratt of Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan is First Vice Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.
Voting went late into the night with the sixth ballot closing at 11:30 p.m. with no significant movement.
Out of the 415 ballots cast, Woodhouse received 234 (50.8 per cent) and Pratt received 181 (39.3 per cent).
Voting continues until one candidate reaches 60 per cent or someone concedes, AFN spokesperson Kelly Reid told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in a phone interview.
Once a leader is selected, the Oath of Office and an honouring song will take place ahead of possible remarks from the winner.
Reid said the day's agenda is full with several motions to be tabled.
CTV News has reached out to Sayers for comment.
The winner will replace Interim National Chief Joanna Bernard who has served in the role since July after former National Chief RoseAnne Archibald was removed from office following an investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977430.1721929538!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
LIVE UPDATES Multiple homes, businesses 'lost' to wildfire in Jasper National Park: Parks Canada
Officials from Parks Canada and Jasper say "multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost" to wildfire in Jasper National Park.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed in a wildfire.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Canada to bring home fewest Olympic medals since 2012, according to forecaster
Fewer Canadians are expected to reach the Paris podium than in the previous two Olympic Summer Games, a global data analytics company predicts.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
'Skibidi Toilet:' If you don't know what it is, you will
'Skibidi Toilet' is already an internet sensation and now its about to get even more exposure after the YouTube series is being developed for TV and film, according to a report by Variety.
NASA says no return date yet for astronauts and Boeing capsule at space station
Already more than a month late getting back, two NASA astronauts will remain at the International Space Station until engineers finish working on problems plaguing their Boeing capsule, officials said Thursday.
French sprinter will wear a cap during Olympic opening ceremony after hijab dispute is resolved
French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla will be allowed to participate in the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics wearing a cap to cover her hair, an agreement reached with the French Olympic Committee after Sylla said she was barred because of her hijab.