You have to be quick to keep up with Willie Sellars; even when he’s packing 24 sockeye in a burlap sack up the switchback paths of Farwell Canyon.

Willie’s a goalie, a family man and a Councillor for the Williams Lake Indian Band. He’s a soon-to-be published children’s book author too.

“I’m always on the hunt for a First Nations picture book to read with my children,” he said. Working with an illustrator, Willie took matters in hand and wrote a story about dip net fishing. “Dad brought me up dip netting for salmon,” Willie said. “But nobody knows about this fishery.”

Driving out to the Chilcotin River, I asked him what lessons he’d like young people to take from his book and his life on the river.

Respect the river. He remembers an elder telling him: “Don’t spit in the river. It’s a sign of disrespect.” When we were on the Chilcotin, Willie took the time to clean up wrappers and cans that had been left behind. “It’s something that I was taught; it’s something that I believe,” he said.

Take pride in your culture and traditions. “Providing for the community is cool,” he said. “It costs me some money to live by the river, but this summer I’ve given about 800 fish to First Nations communities.”

Reflecting on his younger days, Willie remembered that “fishing helped to keep me out of trouble.” Nearing the bridge, he invited young people to join him: “You don’t have to party to have fun. Come to the river with us.”

View the photo album:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.173151179541135.1073741857.150376608485259&type=3

September 18, 2013