About the Event Special Chiefs Assembly & National Chief Election

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) will take place from December 5-7, 2023, in Ottawa, Ontario. The SCA will be held at the Shaw Centre, located at 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 9J2.

The SCA will be hosted both in-person and online. Voting for National Chief will be conducted online using a digital ballot to accommodate Chiefs and proxies who will be attending virtually.

On July 11, 2023, First Nations-in-Assembly passed Resolution 34/2023, Appointment of Chief Electoral Officer and Timing of the Election of the National Chief, which set the timing of the next election for December 2023 during the upcoming Special Chiefs Assembly.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations.

The AFN hosts at least two Assemblies each year, where mandates and directives for the organization are established through resolutions directed and supported by the First Nations-in-Assembly (elected Chiefs or proxies from member First Nations).

The AFN is also guided by an Executive Committee consisting of an elected National Chief and Regional Chiefs from each province and territory.

Information regarding the National Chief election process will be provided by the Chief Electoral Officer.

2023 Election of the National Chief

In accordance with AFN Resolution 24/2023, Appointment of a Chief Electoral Officer and the Timing of the Election of the National Chief, Ron Laufer was appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer for the election of the National Chief through an Executive Committee motion passed on September 25, 2023. Ron brings over 20 years of elections experience to the role, including the previous AFN virtual election in 2021.

The Special Chiefs Assembly and Election of the National Chief will be conducted in a hybrid format at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, from December 5-7, 2023. With the election fast approaching, below is the contact information for the Chief Electoral Office, as well as information on key dates, nominations, and other issues of importance.

Download: AFN Bulletin – 2023 Election of the National Chief (PDF 110k)

Key Dates:

Chief Electoral Officer will assume their duties on October 10, 2023, and relinquish their duties on December 21, 2023.

• October 11, 2023 – Nomination(s) commence eight (8) weeks prior to the Election
• November 1, 2023 – Nomination(s) conclude at 11:59 PM EDT five (5) weeks prior to the Election
• December 6, 2023 – Election for the Office of National Chief will be held at the Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, during the December 2023 Special Chiefs Assembly in a hybrid format.

Future Announcements:

Future notifications, announcements, and specific election details (e.g., electronic voting, candidate profiles) will be released after the November 1st nomination closing date, once all of the nominations received are in proper form.

Nomination Packages:

For eligibility criteria to become a Candidate for National Chief in the 2023 AFN Election, please refer to Appendix A (1990) of the AFN Charter.

Candidate Nomination Packages are available upon request.

Individuals interested in becoming a Candidate for National Chief are invited to contact the Chief Electoral Officer with questions or to request a Candidate Nomination Package:

Ron Laufer
Chief Electoral Officer
Assembly of First Nations
55 Metcalfe Street, 16th Floor
Ottawa, ON K1P 6L5
Cell: 604-715-4777
Email: elections2023@afn.ca