When aboriginal leaders meet next month at the Council of Yukon First Nations' (CYFN) annual assembly, they will decide who will represent them in the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the largest native advocacy body in the country.

While incumbent regional chief Rick O'Brien offers six years of experience on the assembly, his challenger, former Teslin Tlingit chief Eric Morris, brings more than a decade's worth of leadership on his southern Yukon first nation's executive.

"One of the things that I think I have is the experience I've been able to gain working as our chief here in Teslin," said Morris, who lost his post in February after serving as CEO of the Teslin Tlingit since 1999.

However, O'Brien will be hard to beat. After first winning the seat in 2003, O'Brien easily won re-election in 2006 against Ed Shultz, a former CYFN grand chief.

But the incumbent is not taking Morris' candidacy lightly.

"I never underestimate my opponents, however I remain confident in myself," O'Brien told the Star today.

Among the incumbent's credits as the Yukon's regional chief to the AFN are his work in achieving veterans' benefits for first nation soldiers and the $4-billion residential school settlement with the federal government.

These accomplishments are not lost on O'Brien's challenger.

"I believe that Rick has done an excellent job, especially in the whole area of residential schools - his work had been significant," Morris said Monday.

So why take him on?

"There seems to be a trend of change, and I think different people stepping in and taking over can be a good thing. I was challenged by (Teslin's) current chief Peter Johnston who was able to beat me; that's a sign of the change that's been happening."

Morris said when he heard the regional chief position was coming up, he gave it some thought, decided to throw his hat in and looks forward to debating the issues with O'Brien.

From O'Brien's perspective, putting the decision out to a vote is good for democracy.

"I would never want to get in by acclamation," he said. "We live in a democratic world, and competition is healthy. It will give me a chance to foster new relationships and be accountable."

Voting for the position of the Yukon's AFN regional chief will be limited to chiefs and four delegates from each of the territory's 14 first nations. The election will take place during the CYFN's annual general assembly July 14-16 at Yukon College.

A week later, Canada's 633 first nation chiefs will be eligible to vote for outgoing AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine's successor at a convention in Calgary.

The candidates vying to succeed Fontaine are Shawn Atleo, the regional AFN chief for B.C.; Anishinabek Nation Grand Chief John Beaucage, Perry Bellegarde, a former AFN vice-chief for Saskatchewan; and Terrance Nelson, chief of the Roseau River First Nation in Manitoba.