File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Ron Ignace

After 32 years as Skeetchestn chief, Ron Ignace steps aside

Apr 22, 2021 | 11:18 AM

SKEETCHESTN — An era of leadership has come to an end at Skeetchestn Indian Band.

Wednesday (Apr. 21), band members elected Darrell Draney as the band’s new chief. Draney succeeds Ron Ignace, who served as chief for 32 of the past 38 years.

Ignace did not run for re-election, telling CFJC Today Thursday it was time to step aside.

“Much to the surprise of everyone, on May 4, I’m going to be 75,” said Ignace. “I figured I’ll go do other things, do some other stuff that I’ve wanted to do while I still can.”

A survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, Ignace was first elected Skeetchestn chief in 1982, going on to serve as chair of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and president of the Secwepemc Cultural Education Society.

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During his tenure both Ignace and his wife, noted linguist and anthropologist Marianne Ignace, took special interest in studying and promoting traditional Indigenous languages. He helped establish the Assembly of First Nations’ National Chief’s Committee on Language and Culture, and chaired the federal government’s Task Force on Aboriginal Languages and Culture.

Those initiatives eventually resulted in the tabling of Bill C-91: An Act respecting Indigenous languages in the House of Commons in 2019.

“I’ll continue working on our language,” Ignace says about his retirement from elected office. “We now have the opportunity, through Bill C-91, to establish our own Secwepemc law to make, within Shuswap territory, Secwepemctsin language to be the official language of the territory.”

In addition to continue his language work, Ignace pledges to use his time to see better forest management practices in B.C.

“I would like to see the province recognize that they’re missing out on an important tool: using fire to manage the forests. If they don’t wake up and do that, we’re going to be confronted with California- and Australia-style forest fires.”

Canada has often had a very problematic relationship with its Indigenous peoples throughout its history, but Ignace remains optimistic that change is starting to happen.

“We’re at a crossroads here,” he said. “I believe that, finally, Canada is coming to its senses and recognizing that Indigenous peoples of this country can play a very supportive role — especially around climate change and repairing the environment. We have thousands of years of working in the environment and a lot of traditional knowledge as to how that can be better managed.”

Ignace sees plenty of opportunity for the Skeetchestn community through its planned industrial park near the Trans Canada Highway, its partnership with the New Afton mine and its place in the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemec Nation (SSN).

“It’s been a good run here and I really appreciate the support from my community over the years,” he said. “It’s a long, long run to be chief these days. I (am also thankful for) the support of a lot of the non-native population.”

In addition to Draney, Skeetchestn members elected four councillors Wednesday: Archie Deneault, Marshall Gonzales, Tracy Hewitt and Aubin McTaggert.