Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo resigns amid tense education debate

Shawn Atleo resigned his post as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations on Friday, amid a tense debate over the quality of education in Canada's aboriginal communities.

APTN National News first reported Atleo's resignation, Friday afternoon. According to the agency, Atleo said he did not want to be a "lightning rod" or obstacle in the campaign to improve First Nation education.

Atleo had faced calls to step down over his position on Bill C-33, the so-called First National Control of First Nations Education Act. Atleo had backed the new deal, which critics said would allow Ottawa to maintain control of First Nations education, save for various administrative functions.

Earlier this week, the regional chiefs of Saskatchewan, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario vocally opposed the bill and Atleo's support for it. First Nations lawyer and activist Pam Palmater called for Atleo to be impeached as frustration boiled over on social media.

Notably, Facebook and Twitter accounts that had previously been connected to Atleo were offline on Friday.

More to come…