Soccer provided a path to freedom for Alex Nelson.

91裸聊视频淲hen we were young, we were taught not to be ourselves. We were taught to go the other way,91裸聊视频� said Nelson, of the Musgamagw Dzawada91裸聊视频檈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.

91裸聊视频淥ur old people always said, 91裸聊视频榊ou never brag about yourself. It91裸聊视频檚 others that do the bragging about you.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

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 Nelson91裸聊视频檚 village via Scottish loggers, who had occupied the territory and started creating more teams.

91裸聊视频淲e built a soccer field in Kingcome, which was unusual.91裸聊视频�

The Indigenous teams formed were in Kingcome, Alert Bay, Cape Mudge and Powell River.

91裸聊视频淭hose are the four tribal groups that, in my mind, started off soccer in a great way.91裸聊视频�

He started playing at five years old and practised shooting, dribbling, running after stray balls and kicking them back.

91裸聊视频淪o that became my little thrill.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频榳orld cup91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淗e was 49 years old at the time. And I said, 91裸聊视频業91裸聊视频檓 gonna be like my uncle. I91裸聊视频檓 gonna be number nine,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Nelson said.

He would move to Victoria from Alert Bay, keeping his uncle91裸聊视频檚 number with him whenever he played.

91裸聊视频淚t became one of those role-model situations.91裸聊视频�

Nelson discovered his passion for coaching, which helped him believe in himself and find solace in the beautiful game.

91裸聊视频淚 started to accept myself for who I was, and then I started to walk with pride.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 saw that it is not just a game. It was freedom.91裸聊视频�

Nelson still believes in his football ability and plays for the Oak Bay alums.

91裸聊视频淚 still think I am the best player.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淗e looked at me and said, 91裸聊视频楧on91裸聊视频檛 chew gum.91裸聊视频� That91裸聊视频檚 all he said. So eventually, I just started to accept that I must be playing, OK.91裸聊视频�

Nelson now credits his seven-year-old great-grandson Marcus with keeping soccer91裸聊视频檚 inspiration alive.

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