Two First Nations bands removed from the federal Indian Act election schedule

The Semiahmoo First Nation (British Columbia) and Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve (Ontario) have been removed from the list of bands whose councils are elected under the Indian Act. This means those two communities are no longer subject to the federal election rules set out in that legislation for selecting their chiefs and councils. Members of those bands and anyone dealing with their governance should be aware that a different legal framework now governs their leadership selection. The practical effect is that elections for those bands will no longer be run under the federal Indian Act process.