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OTTAWA — The head of Canada’s largest aboriginal organization, Shawn Atleo, is taking a “brief” sick leave in the midst of a political crisis.

Atleo, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says the meetings and frustrations over the past two weeks have caught up with him, and his doctor has ordered him to rest.

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“I regret to have to tell you that those long days have caught up with me. This weekend, my doctor ordered that I take some time now to rest and recover and I have agreed with my family that I do this now,” Atleo said in a statement.

“I will see you all very soon and will return re-invigorated and strengthened to work with you to drive this change together with all of you.”

Media reports circulating on Monday stated that Atleo had the norovirus through Christmas and was not fully recovered during the early January meetings and protests.

Atleo has been the target of much criticism from other chiefs and First Nations people for agreeing to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week.