(VCR102)VANCOUVER,July 30 -- Grand Chief Ovide Mercredi chats with reporters before the first vote at the 18th annual General Assembly of the First Nations. Mercredi's future as Canada's top aboriginal leader hung in the balance Wednesday as delegates to the annual meeting of the Assembly of First Nations began voting for a new leader. (CP PHOTO) 1997 (str - Nick Procaylo)np