Shawn Atleo appealed for unity among the Assembly of First Nations after being sworn in as the assembly's new national chief on Thursday, following a dramatic and divisive 23-hour voting contest that ended only after his sole remaining contender conceded.

Shawn Atleo, shown Wednesday, has become national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. His sole remaining rival in the election conceded defeat Thursday after an eighth ballot gave Atleo 58 per cent of the vote. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Perry Bellegarde, a councillor from Saskatchewan's Little Black Bear First Nation, conceded defeat after the eighth ballot at the AFN general assembly in Calgary gave Atleo 58 per cent of the vote.

To win the election to replace long-time AFN leader Phil Fontaine, a candidate needed to garner 60 per cent of the vote or have his remaining rivals step down.

In his first speech as national chief, Atleo, 42, a British Columbia businessman with a master's degree in education, asked the crowd to put the long night's division behind them.

"We were supporting one and other," he said. "There is no reason why we can't leave here and build unity across this country, overcome divisions we did not create."

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Atleo said the election was a "demonstration of a deep commitment to what binds us together."

"That's the plight of our communities," he said. "That's the inherent rights that we're all born to. It's the treaty rights that the ancestors signed that have been passed on as sacred treaties. It's the plight of the youth in our communities.

"It's the health of our people exposed to issues like the H1N1 flu virus. It's the unsafe housing conditions that our people face, the unsafe drinking water."

Some 639 First Nations chiefs were eligible to cast ballots in the vote, which started Wednesday morning with five candidates in the running.

The eight ballots were cast over a period of more than 23 hours, with several of the later rounds showing that the two remaining candidates were tied before Atleo began to build a small lead on the sixth ballot.

Prior to this vote, the longest AFN vote was in 1997, when six ballots were cast over an 18-hour period. Some attendees at the general assembly told reporters it may be time for the AFN to examine its voting procedures.

Candidates lack national status

James Frideres, director of the International Indigenous Studies Program at the University of Calgary, suggested the results remained close because both candidates were relatively unknown.

Candidate Perry Bellegarde, right, gets directions from former candidate Bill Wilson during the AFN general meeting in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

"No one has achieved a national status at this point," Frideres said.

Some insiders said the prolonged vote was rooted in a division between chiefs of treaty lands and non-treaty lands regarding who will best represent them in discussions with the federal government.

Bellegarde congratulated Atleo with a hug, during which the new national chief whispered in his ear that though the election was over, "it has no real conclusion yet," according to reports.

During the election, Atleo and Bellegarde had told voters they intended to strive for unity no matter who won.

Atleo, vice-chief of the assembly for British Columbia and chancellor of Vancouver Island University, was the youngest candidate in the election campaign.

Atleo mounted his campaign on the need to make AFN more relevant to aboriginals on- and off-reserve. He promoted himself as a bridge builder and boasts a long history as a regional politician. The key is a united native front across Canada to push for fair access to natural resources on traditional lands, Atleo told delegates Tuesday.

Bellegarde had told delegates his business background would help the AFN. He had said economic development and employment would have been priorities if he was elected.

PM congratulates Atleo

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the federal government looks forward to working with Atleo and the AFN.

"It is more important than ever that government and First Nations leadership work together to identify solutions and produce real, practical and tangible results for aboriginal peoples," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. "Only through meaningful dialogue, shared responsibilities and continued good faith can we succeed."

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff also offered his congratulations to Atleo in a statement, calling the AFN an "important part of the Canadian mosaic."

"Their part in opening the lines of communication is pivotal, and I commend their proactive and meaningful dialogue that helps to engage Canadians across the country as we all work together to improve the lives of First Nations people," said the news release from Ignatieff's office.

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said he looks forward to working with the new grand chief, noting he has always been a "very positive and constructive leader" in the province.

"I think he will be a great national chief. He has been a great chief in B.C. and I look forward to working with him and other chiefs as we continue to build a new relationship," Campbell said.

Marathon election

Atleo will be sworn in as leader by elders during the remainder of the general assembly.

In the marathon election, Atleo looked to be pulling into a commanding lead with 43 per cent compared with Bellegarde's 29 per cent after the first ballot.

But in a surprise move after the first ballot, Ontario economist John Beaucage, who came in third with 15 per cent, dropped out and threw his support behind Bellegarde.

Manitoba author and consultant Terrance Nelson finished fourth with 10 per cent of the vote and B.C. land claims treaty negotiator Bill Wilson finished last with one per cent. Both also threw their support behind Bellegarde.

With files from The Canadian Press