Zagimē Anishinabēk Returns to Community Elections

Summary#

The government registered the Order Amending the Schedule to the First Nations Elections Act (Zagimē Anishinabēk): SOR/2026-86. The order removes Zagimē Anishinabēk from the First Nations Elections Act, so the community will run its own council elections under its own code. The order was registered on May 13, 2026 and published in the Canada Gazette on June 3, 2026.

What it does#

• Repeals Item 41 of the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act, ending the Act’s application to Zagimē Anishinabēk.
• Lets the First Nation hold future elections under its own Zagimē Anishinabēk Election Act (its community election code).
• Means Indigenous Services Canada will no longer run, oversee, or decide disputes about those elections; the community’s code and, if needed, the courts handle disputes.
• Takes effect on the day the order was registered (May 13, 2026).
• The department notes the community’s code includes an amendment procedure, was published by the First Nation, and that there are no outstanding charges under the First Nations Elections Act against any member.

Who's affected#

• Members and electors of Zagimē Anishinabēk in Saskatchewan. They will vote under the community’s own rules rather than the federal Act.
• Indigenous Services Canada, which will stop administering elections for this First Nation and will record results only.
• Courts or other bodies that might hear election disputes if the community code does not resolve them.
• This change does not apply to other First Nations (it is limited to Zagimē Anishinabēk).

Why it matters#

• It gives Zagimē Anishinabēk more control over how chiefs and councillors are chosen. That can affect who can run, how voting happens, and what timelines or accessibility options are used.
• The community supported the change in a ratification vote on April 29, 2025: 664 ballots were cast, with 417 in favour, 242 opposed and 5 rejected. That shows local backing for the move.
• For residents, the practical result is that election rules and any complaints will be handled locally under the community code rather than by federal election rules or federal officials.