SFN Chief Michael Wyse and Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog address reporters during an announcement regarding hopes for on-reserve SFN members to vote in municipal elections. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

joint effort

‘Correct an historic anomaly:’ Snuneymuxw seeking to vote in Nanaimo municipal elections

Feb 17, 2026 | 2:00 PM

NANAIMO — A joint application aims to allow on-reserve Snuneymuxw First Nation members the ability to vote for Nanaimo’s mayor and council, as well as take part in municipal assent voting.

A Tuesday, Feb. 17 news conference outlined the plan by the City and SFN to allow Snuneymuxw’s four reserves the ability to cast ballots on local, municipal matters.

“Existing servicing agreements for infrastructure, transportation and other assets located on SFN reserve lands will not change as part of this process,” noted a City of Nanaimo news release.

Approximately 800 eligible voters currently reside on the Nation’s four reserves, located just south of the city’s downtown as well as between Cedar and Duke Point.

Up next, Nanaimo City Council is scheduled to be asked at the Monday, Feb. 23 meeting to advance the matter to an electoral approval process.

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Should local electoral approval be granted, the B.C. government would review and be required to sign off on the application.

“…if the province moves quickly then we could be looking at having this in place for the municipal elections this year, we’re hopeful,” Mayor Leonard Krog told reporters.

Krog said on-reserve SFN members not having the ability to vote in municipal elections doesn’t make sense.

While he believes a minority of people will view this proposal negatively, Krog is confident it will be endorsed by the local electorate.

“I am also satisfied that the vast majority of the citizens of Nanaimo will see this for what it is: just a sensible step to correct an historic anomaly, and will be supportive accordingly.”

SFN Chief Michael Wyse said this step is a practical and meaningful way to further advance the relationship between the City and SFN.

“Snuneymuxw is Nanaimo and Nanaimo is Snuneymuxw. However, when boundary lines were arbitrarily drawn on a piece of paper Snuneymuxw was purposely left out of the municipal boundaries and only a tiny portion was included in the RDN boundary.”

Wyse said allowing their on-reserve members the ability to vote in how Nanaimo City Council is shaped helps correct an injustice against SFN.

He said the move follows recent facilitated multi-party meetings.

“The City boundary amendment allows Snuneymuxw to finally participate in local municipal elections since the incorporation of Nanaimo in 1874 — that is 152 years of Snuneymuxw forced exclusion.”

Wyse expanded on the need for clarity and fairness, pointing to the recently formally transferred Department of National Defence Land across from VIU which are now in SFN control.

While City Manager Dale Lindsay said there are many examples of urban First Nations voting in municipal elections in B.C., he’s not aware of this type of application being made previously.

Lindsay said this proposed policy change aligns with its Official Community Plan (City Plan).

A limited number of on-reserve SFN members can participate in Regional District of Nanaimo elections in Cedar, while all eligible on-reserve SFN members can participate in school board elections.

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