The Skeetchestn Indian Band has a new chief for the first time in many years.
The band elected now-former councillor Darrel Draney as chief, in its election on Wednesday.
Outgoing Chief Dr. Ron Ignace, who turns 75 years old next month, decided to retire and did not seek re-election.
He was first elected chief in 1982, more than 38 years ago, and has been chief the entire time except for six year hiatus while representing the Assembly of First Nations.
He was elected more than a dozen times over 32 years as chief; Ignace says the band had two-year terms before expanding that to three years prior to the 2017 election.
“I’ve seen many Prime Ministers, Premiers, Ministers of Indian Affairs, National Chiefs come and go in my time,” Ignace laughed.
“I have a lot of other things in mind that I can do. Our language is in dire need of attention, so I’m putting my mind to that. I’ve worked hard on this new federal Indigenous language legislation, Bill C-91. So, looking forward to that, see where that goes and how I might be involved with that down the road.”
Bill C-91 was passed in the House of Commons in 2019, recognizing Indigenous language rights.
Ignace says his work preserving Indigenous language stands out the most in his time as chief.
“Most definitely,” he tells NL News. “It’s going to make transformative change in Canada, having Indigenous languages recognized in law in Canada. I really was happy when that happened and we got that bill through.”
Locally, while Ignace has served as chief, the Skeetchestn Band has settled two large claims to buy more than 1,000 acres of ranchland and grazing leases in the area. The band has also set up a $3-million-dollar trust fund and has brought in an on-reserve housing program. Ignace also helped the band receive a settlement with the Six Mile Ranch rights and title case.
Ignace is a survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, has published papers and taught courses on Secwepemc language, and he established the AFN’s National Chiefs’ Committee on Language and Culture.
He acknowledged that the final year of the past mandate for chief and council was a challenge, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Ignace says band members have been resilient to prevent the virus from spreading, and says only a handful of cases have been reported on the band.
“You go to bed at night wondering if you’ve done enough, or if you’ve the done right thing to ensure the safety of your community. Fortunately, we’ve had a great experience here that taught us a lot during the Elephant Hill fire,” he says.
“The community pulled together during the COVID times and were very great in looking out for each other, helping each other and helping us as council.”
