The mother of Canadiens goalie Carey Price has been voted in as chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation.
The Abbottsford News reported that Lynda Price was the winner in last Saturday’s election. She lives in Anahim Lake, B.C., where she raised her son along with husband Jerry Price, and was previously chief from 2005 to 2009. The Abbotsford News also reported that Price’s mother was the first woman to be elected to the Union of B.C. Indians Chiefs executive and that in 2015 she graduated from law school at Thompson Rivers University.
“I believe one of the important issues is health and health issues that have arisen so I’m hoping we will be able to work together to establish a healing centre in our community,” Lynda Price said after winning the election.
Carey Price has never forgotten his indigenous roots. After winning four tropies at the 2015 NHL Awards — the Vézina Trophy as best goalie, the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player as voted by players and the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed — Price encouraged First Nations youth to be leaders in their communities in an acceptance speech.
“I would like to take a moment to encourage First Nations youth,” Price said. “People would say it’s very improbable that I’d make it to this point in my life. I made it here because I wasn’t discouraged. I worked hard to get here, took advantage of every opportunity that I had. And I would really like to encourage First Nations youth to be leaders in their communities. Be proud of your heritage, and don’t be discouraged from the improbable.”
Price finished his Vézina speech by saying “chanalya” — which means “thank you” in the Dakelh language spoken by the Ulkatcho people, who are part of the Carrier First Nation.
After Price won his 315th career game last season, moving past Jacques Plante into first place alone in Canadiens history for goalies, a television crew from the Aboriginal People’s Television Network was in the locker room at the Bell Centre and a reporter asked the record-breaking goalie: “Carey, I’m not sure if you ever have faced intimidation as an indigenous player. But here in Quebec, and many parts in Canada, young indigenous players might face intimidation. Would you have anything to encourage them or work for them?”
Responded Price: “Yeah. I feel like this game is made for everybody. It’s obviously a league motto. But definitely, I’ve seen that first-hand and I think it’s important that you understand that you need to be proud of where you come from and enjoy the game for what it is. That’s what it’s meant to be.”
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
