Russell Myers Ross

Russell Myers Ross is indigenous to the Tsilhqot’in Nation from the community of Yunesit’in. Similar to the Salmon Boy story, recounted by the Tsilhqot’in, Russell left home to gain new eyes and returned to his family and community. He finished with a Masters of Indigenous Governance from the University of Victoria (2010). Russell served two 4-year terms as an elected Chief of Yunesit’in Government from 2012-2020 and served as a Council of Chiefs with the Tsilhqot’in National Government. He led Language Revitalization, Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Energy and Planning in the community. From the nation-level, he was part of the Nenqay Deni Accord and Nilt’i Pathways Agreement between the Province and Federal Government nation-to-nation negotiations. He led efforts to protect Teztan Biny from a second Taseko Mines Ltd New Prosperity proposal through the Canadian Environmental Assessment and led the work of Dasiqox Nexwagwez7an, which is exploring an alternative to ensure the area is led by Tsilhqot’in values and laws. Russell has also led projects such as the 1.25 MW Solar Farm in the Tsilhqot’in, organized building and operate the communities’ Yunesit’in Guest House, creating research partnerships, and setting up the Indigenous Fire Stewardship Program in Yunesit’in as a means to prevent, restore and enhance the land in the aftermath of the 2017 wildfires.

Aside from work, Russell has two daughters, Nalina (12) and Luna-qi (9), raising them as artists and adventurers. While art has been intermittent, he is involved in playing soccer and hockey, hiking and medicine gathering, and gardening.     

While most of the research interests have been dedicated to the momentum gained through Indigenous Fire Stewardship, it also includes language revitalization, indigenous law, governance, economy and scholarship, along with mild readings in post-colonial and post-modern studies.