06/18/2026
⚽️. Indigenous History Month
Canada Soccer
As excitement builds for World Cup 2026, Terry Felix’s journey is one worth celebrating. He broke barriers as the first First Nations player to play professional soccer in North America, and shares his story here in his own words.
‘’ My name is Terry Felix. My Traditional name is Kekalum. I am from the Stsailes Tribe, and our Traditional Territory is 60 miles east of Vancouver, BC, in the Harrison Lake and Chehalis Lake Watersheds. My Dad Pete is from Stsailes, and my Mom Dolores (Campbell) is from the Musqueam Tribe in the City of Vancouver. I am the first First Nations player to play professional soccer in North America. I am the only Native to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Only Native to play for the Canadian Olympic Soccer Team. And the only Native to play for the Canadian National Soccer Team. I was starting for all 3 teams when I was 23 years old. I got hurt training with the Olympic Team and was sent home to Vancouver. My wife and I were expecting our first child at the same time as the 1984 Olympics. So, I quit the Olympic Soccer Team to take care of her. After the Olympics, the National Team coach asked me to keep playing for the National Team. I went for a jog with him and said yes. I got home, and my daughter at the time was 2 months old, so I called my coach and said my priority is at home and quit the National Team just before Canada went to the World Cup.
I grew up in an isolated Indian Reserve. We didn't have a soccer field, and I got my first pair of soccer boots 2 months before my 13th birthday. We never played kids’ league or youth league ball. The leagues in the local towns were too far away for us to join. I played my first league game with our men's soccer team, Sasquatch Inn SC, at age 16. At age 20, a Whitecaps scout saw me play and asked me to move to Vancouver to try out for the Whitecaps 3rd team. He said he would let me stay in their Family home and would help me find a job. So, after 20 months of training with the Whitecaps Organization, I started for the Olympic Team. Exactly 1 month later I started for the Canadian National Team. And 1 month after that, I started for the Whitecaps in a packed BC Place Stadium in front of over 50,000 fans. And I became the first Native to play Professional Soccer in North America.
I faced so much racism when I was alone in Vancouver at age 20 and onward. I never let racism stop me from going after my dreams. I hope my story will give our youth inspiration. I am the only Native to play for Canada, and I did that 43 years ago. It is long overdue for our youth to play at that level.
Today I talk to groups of young soccer players and tell them my story. And let them know that they can play any level of soccer they wish. All they have to do is work hard and believe in themselves. And that message is for anything they want to do. Whether it's sports or a job, all you have to do is work hard and believe in yourself.
