Treaty 4 Tribunal Upholds By-Election Results
Chambers of the Chief & Council
October 30, 2024
Tanisi and Anin Sikwa!
On September 6, 2024, Cowessess members returned to the polls in a by-election to choose between two candidates for a vacant Council seat. Both candidates shared their vision in-person, with speeches streamed online for broader community access. Members then voted for the candidate they felt would best represent them, demonstrating our commitment to democratic values we hold dear.
Jennifer Pelletier was initially declared the winner, but the result was appealed and brought to the Treaty 4 Tribunal for review. The Tribunal, an independent judicial body of 20 trained Knowledge Keepers from Treaty 4, handles disputes, elections, and other conflicts.
Following their review, the Treaty 4 Tribunal has upheld the results of the by-election and declared Jennifer Pelletier as the clear winner. With this ruling, Jennifer Pelletier is confirmed as our new on-reserve Councillor.
Your current leadership team is now:
Chief – Erica Beaudin
Councillor – Ira Aisaican
Councillor – Dwayne Curtis Delorme
Councillor – Jean Allison Whiteman
Councillor – Josh Aisaican
Councillor – Terry Lerat
Councillor – Malcolm Delorme
Councillor – Jennifer Pelletier
Councillor – Brandon Pelletier
We understand that elections can stir strong emotions, and the outcome may not please everyone. However, these are the democratic values we hold dear, and we encourage everyone to keep them in mind.
We warmly welcome Jennifer Pelletier to the leadership team and look forward to working together for the Nation. We also extend our gratitude to all members who took the time to vote, fulfilling a key civic duty. A special thank you to Dean Tanner for his commitment in running—stepping up isn’t easy, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
Lastly, we thank the Treaty 4 Tribunal for their essential work supporting Treaty 4 Nations and individuals.
With Respect,
Your Leadership Team
