He traveled abroad for a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change (MEd) from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia.

[3] Atleo was elected as the AFN's National Chief on July 23, 2009, at the leadership convention.

In 2008, Atleo was appointed as Chancellor of Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Atleo has also served as executive director of a family addictions treatment facility and of an Aboriginal post-secondary training institute, Umeek Human Resource Development.

He also led a delegation to assist in rebuilding indigenous communities in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.