Indigenous leader.
Born on 20 December 1897, he worked as a sternwheeler pilot, prospector, surveyor, and commercial fisherman, and was employed by the Game Branch and Department of Highways. He served as an elected councillor of The Pas Indian Band (now known as the Opaskwayak Cree Nation) from 1939 to 1945 and Chief from 1945 to 1965. He was a board member of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation, he participated in the raising of Manitoba’s new provincial flag (12 May 1966), and he was a founder of the Manitoba Indian Brotherhood (1967).
On 31 January 1919, he married Florence Thomas (?-?) at The Pas and they had seven children: Emma Cornelia Bignell (1921-1975, wife of Patrick Constant), Philip Bignell (1925-2015), Paul Reginald Bignell (1927-1989), George Bignell, Eric Bignell, Anne Bignell (wife of ? Bunch), and ? Bignell (wife of Albert Ballantyne). In recognition of his community service, he was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1962).
He died at The Pas on 8 July 1973 and was buried in the Emmanuel Cemetery.
Marriage registration [Cornelius Bignell, Florence Thomas], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Emma Cornelia Bignell, Patrick Constant], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Hudson Bay trip to be recalled,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 May 1966, page 3.
“These Manitobans will help plan centennial,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 September 1963, page 9.
“Former Chief dies,” The Pas Herald, 12 July 1973, page 1.
Cornelius Bignell, FindAGrave.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
We thank Diane Balfour and Glen Toews for providing information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 28 March 2023
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