President David Chartrand and 6 others will run unopposed as nominations for the 2026 Red River Métis National Elections are closed

May 26, 2026

Winnipeg,  MB,  in the National  Homeland of the Red River Métis  - David Gray, Chief Electoral Officer for the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis, confirmed today that nominations for all positions in the MMF National Election called on May 11, 2026, closed at 5:00 p.m. on May 25, 2026.

In doing so Mr. Gray also announced that no one had filed nomination papers to run for President against the current President, David Chartrand. President Chartrand has been the president of the MMF since 1997. He has been acclaimed in the last several elections.

There are twenty-two positions open for election, namely, the President of the Manitoba Métis Federation, 1 Vice-President of the Manitoba Métis Federation for each of the 7 regions, and 2 Regional Executive Officers for each of the 7 regions.

Mr. Gray went on to say, "Thirty-five Red River Métis Citizens put their names forward as candidates for the upcoming election. This is a tremendous response, and we anticipate elections in all but one Region of the MMF. We can expect robust campaigns and elections for the contested positions."

Of the twenty-two positions, the following, in addition to President Chartrand, will be uncontested:

Denise Thomas, Southeast Regional Vice-President;
Andrew Carrier, Winnipeg Regional Vice-President;
Judy Mayer, The Pas Regional Vice-President;
Frances Chartrand, Northwest Regional Vice-President;
Shawn Nault, Southeast Regional Executive Officer; and
Marielle Gauthier, Southeast Regional Executive Officer.

All the above are incumbents. Absent a successful challenge, these returning MMF Cabinet members will be declared elected at the conclusion of the electoral period.

There will be elections for:

Vice-President, Thompson Region;
Vice-President, Interlake Region;
Vice-President, Southwest Region;
Regional Executive Officer, Thompson Region;
Regional Executive Officer, The Pas Region
Regional Executive Officer, Northwest Region;
Regional Executive Officer, Southwest Region;
Regional Executive Officer, Interlake Region; and
Regional Executive Officer, Winnipeg Region.

Incumbents are running in all races except some Regional Executive Officers in The Pas, Interlake, and Southwest Regions. In those races, one or more incumbents are running for another office, retiring, or have died before the election.

There are more than 60,000 Red River Métis eligible as electors in this National Election.

Citizens have 7 days, ending on June 1, 2026, at 5:00 pm, to challenge any candidate's qualifications. If the challenge is successful, the nominee will not become a candidate, and their name will not appear on any ballot. The list of all nominees is attached by position and Region. At the end of that period, nominees will become candidates unless successfully challenged.

According to the MMF Constitution, the MMF must hold an election for President and other MMF Vice-President and Regional Executive positions within 4 years and 3 months of the prior election. There are 7 Regions, each of which has a Vice-President and 2 Regional Executive Officers. The last election was held on June 14, 2022.  

The Cabinet also includes the Spokeswoman for the Infinity Women Secretariat Inc., currently Anita Campbell. The IWS held an election for the Spokeswoman position in a separate process earlier in September, 2025.

The qualifications for office include being a Citizen at least 18 years old, resident or willing to be resident in the Region for which one is seeking office and having held elective office at a Local. There are more than 100 active Locals within the MMF governance structure. Twenty Citizens eligible to vote in their election must nominate a candidate.  

On June 2, the locations of all Election Day polls and the dates and locations of all advance polls will be announced. The Election is scheduled for June 23, 2026. Qualified Citizens will also be able to vote by mail. Polls will be open from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm.

MMF Elections has all the necessary materials, information, and forms on its website: mmfelections.com.

/wcm-docs/docs/news/list_of_nominees.pdf

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For more information:

DAVID N. GRAY, Chief Electoral Officer_
200 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 1A8_
CELL PHONE: 204-281-7257
Email: dgray@mmf.mb.ca

Or the Elections Office

AMBER STEVENS, Elections Manager
OFFICE PHONE: 204-927-8345
FAX: 1-204-318-8890
amber.stevens@mmf.mb.ca OR elections@mmf.mb.ca

Believe in Yourself; Believe in Métis. 

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is the democratically elected National Government of the Red River Métis, also known as the Manitoba Métis. The Red River Métis are a distinct Indigenous Nation and People and Canada's Negotiating Partners in Confederation and the Founders of the Province of Manitoba. 

 

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