COMMUNITY NOTICE: Update on Sipekne’katik Membership Code

COMMUNITY NOTICE

DATE: Tuesday, May 13, 2026

RE: Update on Sipekne’katik Membership Code

Following the historic community vote held on March 31, 2026, where members voted 89.85% in favour of adopting a Custom Membership Code, Sipekne’katik First Nation is pleased to provide an update on the progress of this transition.

The Current Status:

While the community’s mandate was clear and the participation threshold was successfully met (55.9% turnout), the legal transition from federal control under the Indian Act to community control is currently in the administrative phase. Our team is working diligently with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to finalize the official transfer of authority.

What This Means for Members:

During this interim period, membership processes will continue under the existing system until the formal "Effective Date" is established. This ensures that all registrations and changes remain legally valid while we complete the necessary "behind-the-scenes" legal and technical work.

Next Steps:

The Nation is committed to a transition that is both smooth and transparent. We are currently:

• Finalizing the formal submission of verified vote results to the Minister.

• Preparing our internal administrative systems to assume full management of the Sipekne’katik Membership List.

We wish to thank the community once again for their patience and for the overwhelming support shown during this process. This step toward sovereignty is a significant milestone for our Nation, and we look forward to sharing further updates as the federal timelines are confirmed.