Sagamok Anishnawbek Moves to First Nations Elections Act

Summary#

The Government of Canada has approved an order that lets the First Nation Sagamok Anishnawbek move its band elections out from under the Indian Act system and into the First Nations Elections Act system. The change was registered on December 22, 2023 and announced in the Canada Gazette on January 3, 2024.

What it does#

• Removes Sagamok Anishnawbek from the Indian Bands Council Elections Order, so the election rules in the Indian Act no longer apply to the band.
• Adds Sagamok Anishnawbek to the list covered by the First Nations Elections Act, so future elections follow that Act’s rules.
• Fixes the date of the first election under the First Nations Elections Act for this community as August 9, 2024.
• The change was requested by the band council by resolution on October 10, 2023 and approved by Patricia Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services.
• The order came into force on the day it was registered (December 22, 2023).

Who's affected#

• Primarily members of Sagamok Anishnawbek — voters, candidates, current and future chiefs and councillors.
• Local election administrators and the electoral officer for the community.
• Community partners, funders or businesses who work with the band may notice the change indirectly through longer terms and different governance rules.
• This change applies only to Sagamok Anishnawbek; it does not change election rules for other First Nations.

Why it matters#

• Elections under the First Nations Elections Act generally run on a four years cycle instead of every two years, meaning fewer elections and potential cost savings for the community.
• The change gives the community more control over its election rules and is intended to support local governance choices and longer-term planning.
• The First Nations Elections Act also sets out clearer rules for handling election disputes and offences, which can affect how contested elections are resolved.
• This is a community-driven change: it responds to a request from the band council and is limited to that First Nation.