Soccer provided a path to freedom for Alex Nelson.
乌鸦传媒淲hen we were young, we were taught not to be ourselves. We were taught to go the other way,乌鸦传媒� said Nelson, of the Musgamagw Dzawada乌鸦传媒檈nuxw Tribal Council.
The BC Sports Hall of Fame unveiled a new Indigenous sports gallery on April 15. The gallery features over 139 square metres of permanent exhibit space that celebrates the rich history and many contributions to sport by Indigenous athletes, teams, coaches, builders, and volunteers.
One of those people is Nelson, who was first inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Being honoured in the gallery fills Nelson with a lot of pride in who he is. And he is flattered to be remembered alongside the other Indigenous athletes.
乌鸦传媒淥ur old people always said, 乌鸦传媒榊ou never brag about yourself. It乌鸦传媒檚 others that do the bragging about you.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕
Nelson, who now resides in Victoria, is from Ukwanalis Village, set in the mountains three miles up the Kingcome River, northeast of Alert Bay. The village has around 300 to 400 people.
According to Nelson, his village is a combination of four different Nations, and the growth of soccer came out of nowhere. The sport came to Nelson乌鸦传媒檚 village via Scottish loggers, who had occupied the territory and started creating more teams.
乌鸦传媒淲e built a soccer field in Kingcome, which was unusual.乌鸦传媒�
The Indigenous teams formed were in Kingcome, Alert Bay, Cape Mudge and Powell River.
乌鸦传媒淭hose are the four tribal groups that, in my mind, started off soccer in a great way.乌鸦传媒�
He started playing at five years old and practised shooting, dribbling, running after stray balls and kicking them back.
乌鸦传媒淪o that became my little thrill.乌鸦传媒�
But Nelson was forced to leave his home in Kingcome at age seven and attend a residential school in Alert Bay. At the residential school, Nelson would start playing for the Dalton Braves, named after their former principal at Alert Bay.
In 1958, Nelson had his first experience playing in a tournament, and he considered that his 乌鸦传媒榳orld cup乌鸦传媒� for the rest of his life.
Toward the end of that tournament, Nelson recalled seeing the all-stars and the most valuable players on each team, one of whom was his uncle.
乌鸦传媒淗e was 49 years old at the time. And I said, 乌鸦传媒業乌鸦传媒檓 gonna be like my uncle. I乌鸦传媒檓 gonna be number nine,乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 Nelson said.
He would move to Victoria from Alert Bay, keeping his uncle乌鸦传媒檚 number with him whenever he played.
乌鸦传媒淚t became one of those role-model situations.乌鸦传媒�
Nelson discovered his passion for coaching, which helped him believe in himself and find solace in the beautiful game.
乌鸦传媒淚 started to accept myself for who I was, and then I started to walk with pride.乌鸦传媒�
Soccer was a powerful influence on Nelson, and he credits the sport with helping him survive the residential schools. When he was at the school, the supervisors would often hand the kids a ball and tell them to go and play.
乌鸦传媒淚 saw that it is not just a game. It was freedom.乌鸦传媒�
Nelson still believes in his football ability and plays for the Oak Bay alums.
乌鸦传媒淚 still think I am the best player.乌鸦传媒�
He attended UVic, majoring in event management becoming heavily involved in the 1997 North American Indigenous Games hosted by Victoria.
Nelson approached his father as a young athlete, seeking advice on how to improve his game.
乌鸦传媒淗e looked at me and said, 乌鸦传媒楧on乌鸦传媒檛 chew gum.乌鸦传媒� That乌鸦传媒檚 all he said. So eventually, I just started to accept that I must be playing, OK.乌鸦传媒�
Nelson now credits his seven-year-old great-grandson Marcus with keeping soccer乌鸦传媒檚 inspiration alive.
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