Soccer provided a path to freedom for Alex Nelson.

鈥淲hen we were young, we were taught not to be ourselves. We were taught to go the other way,鈥� said Nelson, of the Musgamagw Dzawada鈥檈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.

鈥淥ur old people always said, 鈥榊ou never brag about yourself. It鈥檚 others that do the bragging about you.鈥欌��

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鈥檚 village via Scottish loggers, who had occupied the territory and started creating more teams.

鈥淲e built a soccer field in Kingcome, which was unusual.鈥�

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

鈥淭hose are the four tribal groups that, in my mind, started off soccer in a great way.鈥�

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

鈥淪o that became my little thrill.鈥�

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 鈥榳orld cup鈥� 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.

鈥淗e was 49 years old at the time. And I said, 鈥業鈥檓 gonna be like my uncle. I鈥檓 gonna be number nine,鈥欌�� Nelson said.

He would move to Victoria from Alert Bay, keeping his uncle鈥檚 number with him whenever he played.

鈥淚t became one of those role-model situations.鈥�

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

鈥淚 started to accept myself for who I was, and then I started to walk with pride.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 saw that it is not just a game. It was freedom.鈥�

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

鈥淚 still think I am the best player.鈥�

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.

鈥淗e looked at me and said, 鈥楧on鈥檛 chew gum.鈥� That鈥檚 all he said. So eventually, I just started to accept that I must be playing, OK.鈥�

Nelson now credits his seven-year-old great-grandson Marcus with keeping soccer鈥檚 inspiration alive.

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