Wikwemikong Moves to First Nations Elections Act

Summary#

This order, Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Wikwemikong), removes the Wikwemikong First Nation from the list of bands that hold council elections under the Indian Act. The change came into force on the day it was registered (March 20, 2026) and enables the community to use the First Nations Elections Act instead.

What it does#

• Repeals Item 66 of Part V of Schedule I to the Indian Bands Council Elections Order, so the Indian Act election rules no longer apply to Wikwemikong.
• This is done at the request of the Wikwemikong council (resolution dated July 14, 2025) so the community can move to the First Nations Elections Act.
• A related order (separately published) adds Wikwemikong to the schedule of the First Nations Elections Act and fixes the first election date under that law at August 22, 2026.
• The government’s analysis says there are no direct federal costs to making this change.

Who's affected#

• Members of the Wikwemikong First Nation in Ontario.
• People who run or take part in local elections there: candidates, voters, and the electoral officer.
• The change is specific to Wikwemikong; other First Nations are not affected by this order.
• Provincial or federal courts and prosecutors could be involved in election disputes under the First Nations Elections Act if needed.

Why it matters#

• It shifts the band’s election rules away from the long-standing federal Indian Act system and into the First Nations Elections Act, which gives communities a different, more standardized election framework.
• Practical effects cited by the government include fewer general elections (moving from every two years under the older practice to every four years under the First Nations Elections Act) and potential cost savings for the community.
• The change is meant to increase local control over governance and give the community more stability to plan longer-term projects and partnerships.