General

Multi-sport athlete Willard Gallic Sr. has been inducted into the Nuu-chah-nulth Sports Hall of Fame.

Gallic, a member of Tseshaht First Nation, was honoured during the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Tlu-Piich Games. His athletic resume began in 1950, at age 10, when he played soccer and softball at Gill Elementary, and grew to include a dizzying variety of organized sports.

Unlike many First Nations children of his generation, Gallic did not attend residential school, and for that, he credits the courage of his parents, Jimmy (Jeff) and Jessie Gallic.

The 2014 Tlu-piich (Summer) Games head off the water to the track today, with preliminaries at Bob Dailey beginning at 9 a.m.

The games opened on Aug. 5 with canoe and lacrosse clinics and an opening ceremony at Hupacasath House of Gathering in the evening. See photos here: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/2014-tlu-piich-games-opening-ceremonies

Tyee Ha’wilth Mike Maquinna welcomed guests to Yuquot (Friendly Cove) Aug. 3 and invited them to share a meal of salmon and potato salad to cap this year’s Summerfest camp out, the theme of which was Youth.

See Photos: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/nootka-spirit-2014-summerfest-celebrat...

With barely a week left to go before the start of the 2014 Nuu-chah-nulth Tlu-piich Games, organizers are working furiously to get everything in place so that the young athletes and their cheerleaders can enjoy the games with as few glitches as possible.

Most important to a successful event is a full roster of dedicated volunteers to help make the games run smoothly.

“We need volunteers for Track & Field and also score keepers for the fast and slo pitch tournaments,” said Tlu-piich Games Coordinator Marisa Bennett.

Basketballer Laurissa Jimmy plans to make the most of her experience when she takes to the court with Team BC at the 2014 North American Indigenous Games in Regina.

Jimmy, 19, is a member of Ahousaht First Nation, but lives in Port Alberni.

"I started playing when I was 12, at first with local aboriginal teams. That's when we moved to town," she said.

Jimmy said she kept playing aboriginal basketball and later played at the school level.

They’ve only been paddling for three years now, but the young people of Ditidaht Nation are dominating in canoe competition.

Eight of the 15 young people from the nation who attended a selection camp for the North American Indigenous Games have been given the nod for the 36-member Team BC. Four will compete in under 14, three will compete in 16 and under, and one in 19 and under. They’ll head off to Regina for the games, held July 20 to July 27.

Ahousaht First Nation member Aaron Keitlah is about to embark on his second trip to the North American Indigenous Games as a wrestling coach with Team BC.

Keitlah, who is an alumnus of the powerhouse Alberni Wrestling Club, capped off his high school career with a trip to the Nationals in 2004, the year he graduated. He has since served the team as a coach, when available, while completing his education at the University of Victoria.

Two young Nuu-chah-nulth members of the Alberni Wrestling Club will represent B.C. at the North American Indigenous Games.

Russell David and David Wilson were selected as part of a five-member wrestling contingent for NAIG. On July 20, they will join Team BC in Vancouver before flying out to Regina, where the Games are being held.

The wrestling competition takes place on July 22 and 23.

Nearly two dozen kids arrived at the Port Alberni Friendship Center on July 14 to take part in the opening day of Oowatin Summer Day Camp.

Led by PAFC Youth & Cultural Support Worker Darlene Leonew and summer student workers, Oowatin Summer Day Camp is held three days a week from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

While there, children ages 6  to 10 may take part in arts and crafts activities, games and local field trips.

There will be a cultural component to the summer camp as children will hear stories from invited first nation elders.

Nuu-chah-nulth youth from 14 to 24 years of age are being invited to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program.

It’s a self-directed leadership program focusing on community service, physical recreation, skill development and self-discovery, in conjunction with an adventure journey. Candidates can participate individually or as a group.