Shawn Atleo has resigned as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, saying he does not want to be a 鈥渓ightning rod鈥� in the debate over the government鈥檚 education bill.

Atleo has been heavily criticized for supporting the Conservative government鈥檚 Bill C-33, aimed at reforming aboriginal education in Canada.

Aboriginal chiefs from several provinces want Ottawa to scrap the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, saying it has failed to meet conditions set out by aboriginal leaders.

Atleo said Friday he believes that the work started many years ago 鈥渕ust continue.鈥�

鈥淔ailure is simply not an option. Fighting for the status quo is simply not acceptable,鈥� he said.

Atleo said his actions as national chief have been 鈥渂ased on principle and on integrity,鈥� and that he has been 鈥渉onoured鈥� to serve in the role.

In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was 鈥渟addened鈥� to hear about Atleo鈥檚 鈥渦nexpected鈥� resignation.

Harper said his government has worked closely with Atleo since he was elected national chief in 2009 to improve the economy, education and standard of living on Canada鈥檚 reserves.

Observers say Harper has lost a key ally in Atleo, who has been described as a thoughtful, moderate voice by his supporters. Some of Atleo鈥檚 critics, however, say that he has been too conciliatory in his dealings with Ottawa.

In his statement, Harper said Atleo was 鈥渁 conciliator and strengthened the relationship between First Nations and the Crown.鈥�

Disagreement on education bill

Atleo has called Bill C-33 a necessary step toward giving First Nations control of their schooling. But some First Nations leaders strongly disagree, saying the bill will keep most of that control in the hands of the federal government.

Derek Nepinak, the Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, is among those who have said they will do 鈥渨hatever is necessary鈥� to oppose the bill.

Nepinak told CTV鈥檚 Power Play Friday that indigenous people and First Nations communities 鈥渁cross the country鈥� reject Bill C-33.

鈥淔urthermore, we have to also recognize that Shawn Atleo鈥檚 resignation is reflective of the disrespect that the Conservative government has shown towards indigenous people,鈥� he said.

Nepinak acknowledged that Atleo took on a 鈥渧ery, very difficult task鈥� in trying to advance the education discussion and said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt 鈥渟hould be the one that鈥檚 resigning out of all this.鈥�

Valcourt has defended Bill C-33, saying it meets the conditions outlined by the Assembly of First Nations and chiefs during a meeting in December.

But Nepinak said the legislation 鈥渇alls short鈥� in many ways because it doesn鈥檛 respect Treaty rights or the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The financial package included in the education bill is also inadequate, he said.

Nepinak said the fact that Atleo 鈥渟tood up to support (Bill C-33) without, I think, bringing it back to his executive, bringing it back to the leadership,鈥� raised questions about his integrity.

The grassroots opposition to the education bill and other federal legislation is led by young, vocal aboriginals who won鈥檛 accept the status quo, Nepinak said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to see some changes through First Nations politics,鈥� he said.

Eroding support for Atleo

The lack of support for Atleo among some aboriginal chiefs and groups has been evident for some time.

Atleo was criticized for agreeing to meet with Harper during the Idle No More protests in January 2013. Shortly after, he took a brief sick leave at the height of the grassroots movement.

鈥淎t times, it has appeared that the national chief has been a little bit cozy鈥� with the federal government, Nepinak said Friday.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Chief David Harper, who said he was 鈥渟hocked鈥� by Atleo鈥檚 resignation, called on the AFN executive council Friday to nominate an interim national chief until a July 2015 election takes place.

Asked whether he would run for the position, Nepinak told Power Play that he is committed to his leadership role in Manitoba, but added: 鈥淲e鈥檒l see what the future holds.鈥�

With files from The Canadian Press