Perry Bellegarde
Perry Bellegarde is a member of Little Black Bear First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory, Saskatchewan, Canada. He devoted more than thirty-five years to First Nations leadership at the local, provincial, national and international levels.
He served two terms as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (2014–2021), representing 634 First Nations and nearly one million people. The Assembly of First Nations is Canada’s national First Nations advocacy organization. Under his leadership, the AFN led and influenced the content and passage of five federal statutes, including the Indigenous Languages Act (2019) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2021); ended a twenty-year, two-percent cap on federal funding for First Nations, unlocking more than $45 billion in new federal investment across six budgets; and secured a new fiscal relationship enabling ten-year funding agreements for First Nations governments. In Paris in 2015, he led the Canadian effort to secure recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the Paris Agreement.
Earlier, as Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, he negotiated a 25-year gaming framework agreement with the Province of Saskatchewan and advanced the national compensation package for First Nations veterans. He also served as Chief and Councillor of Little Black Bear First Nation.
He describes himself as an oskâpêwis—a helper. He holds a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Regina, where he was the first Treaty Indian to earn that degree.
Current appointments
- Chair of the Board, First Nations Bank of Canada — Director since 2022; Chair since 2024
- Special Advisor, Fasken — since 2022; advises on relationships with Indigenous Peoples consistent with UNDRIP
- Special Advisor, Sustainable Markets Initiative — since 2019; founded by His Majesty King Charles III
- Honorary President, Royal Canadian Geographical Society — since 2021
- Keynote speaker, represented by Speakers Spotlight
Governance credentials: C.Dir., Directors College, Institute of Corporate Directors / McMaster DeGroote (2012) · CCB.D, Climate Designation Program, Competent Boards (2022) · Prior boards: Assembly of First Nations (Chair, 2014–2021), Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, YMCA Canada, Casino Regina (Finance & Audit Committee), Banff Forum (advisory).
Selected results
- Influenced content and passage of five federal statutes, incl. the Indigenous Languages Act (2019), the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (2019), and the UNDRIP Act (2021)
- Ended the 20-year, 2% federal funding cap; more than $45 billion in new federal investment across six budgets (2015–2021)
- Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the Paris Agreement (2015) and CUSMA (2019)
- AFN operating revenue grew from $5M to $40M (2015–2021)
- All Nations Healing Hospital transfer (2004); 25-year Saskatchewan gaming framework agreement (2002)
- First Nations veterans compensation package (2002); Treaty 4 Governance Centre settlement (2000)
Honours
Terra Carta & Astra Carta Award, Sustainable Markets Initiative (2026) · Saskatchewan Order of Merit (2018) · Honorary Doctor of Laws: Queen’s University (2019), Lakehead University (2022), University of Saskatchewan (2025) · King Charles III Coronation Medal (2024) · Alumni Crowning Achievement Award, Lifetime Achievement, University of Regina (2023) · Nation Builder of the Year, Empire Club of Canada (2021) · Gold Medal, Royal Canadian Geographical Society (2018) · Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals (2002, 2012, 2022) · Saskatchewan Centennial Medal (2005) · Confederation Medal (1992)
Selected keynotes
United Nations General Assembly, New York (2019) · Council of the Federation, annual address to Canada’s Premiers (2010–2019) · Boston Consulting Group Canada (2023) · Chief Executives Organization (2023) · First Nations Major Projects Coalition, opening keynote (2024) · TEDx (2017)