Advice from Squamish Hereditary Chief Gibby Jacob
Wisdom and hard truths from Squamish Hereditary Chief Gibby Jacob on land, governance, and the future of Indigenous leadership
When I sat down with Chief Gibby Jacob, I knew we were going to talk about leadership. But I didn’t expect it to feel like a masterclass in both political strategy and personal responsibility.
“If you don’t know where you come from,” he began, “how can you know where you want to go?”
That line set the tone for the conversation. This wasn’t going to be a superficial chat about reconciliation — it was going to be about the realities of power, the mistakes and victories that shape a Nation, and the mindset it takes to survive decades in leadership without losing your compass.
From Sports Captain to Hereditary Chief
When I asked him about the early steps toward leadership, he didn’t start with politics. He started with sports.
“I’ve always played sports and excelled at all of them — soccer, lacrosse — all team sports,” he said. “A lot of my teachings came from being a part of a team… telling people when they weren’t playing good enough, and then reminding them, ‘We need you.’”
That blend of accountability and encouragement would become a trademark of his leadership style.
His older brothers, especially one who captained his own teams, modeled quiet but decisive leadership. “He wasn’t the loudest guy, but he’d tell you what he thinks,” Gibby recalled.
Changing the Rules of Governance
One of the most striking parts of his story is how he helped transform Squamish governance in the 1980s. At the time, councillors served for life — some literally napped through meetings.
“I thought, there’s something wrong with this picture. We need vitality in here,” he said.
So a group of young leaders, including Gibby, pushed for a system that allowed for more turnover and accountability. It was a bold move that he still sees as one of the most strategic in Squamish history.
The Reality of Land Negotiations
I wanted to dig into the practical side of governance, so I asked about negotiating with Canada and British Columbia — especially on land. His answer was blunt.
“Money comes, money goes. We’ll get land, because that’ll always be there.”
He described decades of work to protect territory, often in the face of governments and companies threatening expropriation. His strategy was simple: never give up land without demanding much more in return — and make sure there’s a reversionary clause so it comes back.
Progress on Reconciliation — Or Not?
Reconciliation is one of those words we hear constantly, so I wanted to know if it’s translating into real change.
Thanks to court victories, Gibby sees more municipal and provincial leaders coming to the table educated about Indigenous rights. But he also pointed out that the leverage First Nations hold is still often ignored.
“They’ve got so many cards,” he told me. “If you’re going to push ahead, we want 50%. Protect our culture, our lands, our language. If you can’t do that, what are we talking about?”
Advice for Young Leaders
I closed by asking what advice he’d give young people stepping into leadership. His first point was legal responsibility.
“You personally are actually liable for the decisions you make on behalf of your people,” he warned.
Then he came back to where we started: “If you don’t know where you come from, how can you know where you want to go? You’ve got to understand the past in order to move towards the future.”
And finally, a reminder that leadership isn’t about glory. “Most of the time you’re getting you-know-what on,” he said with a laugh. “But if you’re true to what you say you want to do, they’ll have you in there forever — if you want to stay.”