Chad Edgar has been elected as the new chief of Michipicoten First Nation (MFN), defeating incumbent Patricia Tangie by a wide margin.
One main topic that swayed the election was the distribution of Robinson Superior Treaty (RST) annuity settlement. Edgar said he believes there will be a referendum for how the money will be allocated.
In the two-candidate race on March 22, Edgar secured 81 per cent of the vote, while Tangie received 19 per cent. A total of 657 ballots were cast for the position of chief—nearly double the turnout from the 2023 election.
The two candidates faced off in that race as well, with Tangie narrowly defeating Edgar at the time, receiving 191 votes to his 137. Edgar, however, was successful in securing a council seat that year.
This is the first time since 2017 that MFN will have a new chief.
Evelyn Stone was the only council member from the previous administration who sought re-election this time around. She was successful, earning the second-highest number of votes for council with 349.
Rachelle Philippe led the council race with 382 votes. Also elected were Taryn Michel (337), Dan Beaupre (268), Peggy Rice (255), Joseph Skouris (245), James St. Germain (243), and Wendy Peterson Shawana (232).
The newly elected chief and council will take over on April 1.
The results come three months after more than 360 members signed a petition calling for Tangie’s removal, alleging that a financial administration bylaw passed under her leadership infringed on their treaty rights.
The bylaw, enacted in January 2023, would freeze 60 per cent of anticipated Robinson-Superior Treaty (RST) settlement funds in a legacy trust for 15 years, with interest reinvested for the first five years.
In October, a majority of council members passed a Band Council Resolution (BCR) stating that MFN must:
"Immediately stop the use of the Financial Administration By-Law, 2023-01, and the Wealth Generation Plan as it relates to the potential Robinson-Superior Treaty Annuities Settlement.”
Tangie refused to sign the BCR, arguing that it did not follow the proper amendment process outlined in the financial bylaw itself.
Concerns over the allocation of the annuity settlement became a defining issue for voters leading into the regularly scheduled March 22 election.
In January, the 12 First Nations that signed the RST turned down $3.6 billion offered by the crown, and a court ordered settlement will be decided by Justice Patricia Hennessy, with dates set aside in June.
Incoming Chief Edgar said the controversy surrounding the RST settlement caused a “crack” in the community, leading people to question other aspects of governance, such as "zoning policies" and "nepotism."
To ensure transparency and gather input from members, he plans to use platforms like OneFeather, a digital engagement tool for Indigenous communities. He believes a referendum on the RST settlement funds is likely.
"We should get our knowledge from the people that elected us, especially about the life-changing RST," Edgar said.
Before announcing any major plans, he intends to consult with his new council and the broader MFN members.
"I’m only one person, and I don’t want to become a dictator or somebody who just runs rampant and does my own thing. As a newly elected leader, the people are going to tell me where, how, and what to do," he said.
Although Edgar currently lives in Sault Ste. Marie, he looks forward to spending most of his time in Michipicoten and the Wawa area.
He attributed his success in the election to his track record as a councillor.
"I think I was so successful because I’ve shown MFN that I will stand up for the people."
With almost an entirely new council, Edgar believes this will bring greater transparency and accountability.
"We’re going to have more transparency and accountability because we have a larger amount of members speaking through our seven new councillors, plus Evelyn," he said, given more MFN members are attending meetings and giving feedback.
Edgar expects a smooth transition from the current leadership and has already had a brief email exchange with Tangie since the election results were announced.
When The Sault Star spoke to Chief Tangie in December, she said, “If change has to occur within the Michipicoten leadership, I am OK with that.”
Edgar said that he and Tangie have been working closely together for the last few months and attending special meetings together.
"I think I could reach out to her or the rest of council with any questions or advice in the future," he said.
Edgar expressed respect for the previous administration and their decisions.
"We are always going to do the best we can for our Nation," he said.
Edgar believes that the previous chief and council were acting with good intentions.
"I think they were doing what they believed was best for the next seven generations," said Edgar.
Edgar also expressed gratitude for the high voter turnout and engagement from the community.
"I appreciate everybody coming out to vote this year. The turnout was excellent," he said.
"It’s important that everyone had a chance to voice how they felt and elect a new leader to take on the challenge of moving Michipicoten forward."
With a two-year term ahead — mandated under The Indian Act — Edgar is eager to get together with the newly elected members.
"We’ll get onboarded right away, go through everything, and start moving in the direction the people want," he said.
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Sault Star/Local Journalism Initiative