George Gordon First Nation. Photo courtesy of Manfred Joehnck.

Indigenous Affairs Canada is maintaining a hands-off approach in the George Gordon First Nation election dispute.

Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal ordered a new election for chief, upholding a lower court ruling, but it left the band council in place.

At issue were the 17 missing ballots that could have changed the outcome for the election of chief.

A statement from Indigenous Affairs says under the First Nations Elections Act, it is up to the band council, not the minister or the department to call a by-election.

The election on the First Nation northeast of Regina was held in April of last year. The chief, Bryan McNabb Junior, is considering his legal options.