Local Support for Atleo

Area native leaders are throwing their support behind newly elected national chief of the Assembly of First Nations Shawn Atleo.

The former vice-chief from B.C. won the title following eight rounds of voting in Calgary yesterday.

Couchiching First Nations Chief Chuck McPherson believes Atleo's campaign unfairly benefited from the fact roughly one-third of the 639 eligible voters are from B.C.

The province with the next largest bloc of voters is Ontario, with 134 eligible chiefs.

But McPherson says Atleo will get cross-country support because there is too much to do.