“It’s going to be weird not seeing him at the ball diamond or hockey rink.”
That’s from longtime fastball player and local athlete Randy Potskin following the passing of former Lheidli T’enneh chief Barry Seymour who passed away on Friday after suffering a heart attack in Vancouver.
Potskin told MyPGNow.com Seymour was heavily involved in the local fastball scene as well as the Prince George River Kings program whether it be coaching, fundraising or managing.
“Barry was a great supporter when he was chief and when he wasn’t chief he was always a big supporter. His son played and I coached him way back. We had won a few North American championships with him and he was a great supporter of fastball and the River Kings.”
“I am still very shocked. I did see him at the Aboriginal Youth Hockey Tournament and he was there watching and supporting – we were supposed to go for lunch afterward but he wasn’t feeling good and then he went down to Vancouver and passed (away).”
Seymour became Lheidli Chief in 1995 and held the role for a decade.
Harley Desjarlais, who was a close friend of Seymour who believes it’s a big loss for the entire community, not just sports or politics.
“He was a respected elder. Him and I are the same age and we kind of grew up together and I watched him get involved in a lot of the other roles such as being a political leader with the Lheidli T’enneh along with his other involvement with the museum and such.”
“He was also involved in our North American Indigenous Games team (2014) that won the gold medals.”
At the 2014 games in Regina, Saskatchewan, Team BC clean-sweeped the competition finishing first in the Under-16 Girls, Under-19 Women’s as well as the Under-19 Male age groups.
Sadly, his son Trent was left a paraplegic following a hunting accident.
From there, Seymour moved to Vancouver while Trent was recovering at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Not long after, he worked as the executive director for the Vancouver Native Health Society.
“It was real sad because his son had a tremendous future in future in fastball. Barry was a very proud father watching his son play.” added Desjarlais.
The 67-year-old also sat on the board of the Exploration Place – a position he held since 2010.
Executive Director, Alyssa Leier said Seymour’s contributions to the museum were pretty far and wide.
“He didn’t only just want to show the history of the Lheidli T’enneh but also where the community is today, the living culture and the future as well. He was really passionate and believed in preserving and sharing Lheidli T’enneh culture and he shared his knowledge generously, offering insight that enriched conversation.”
“In that time, he was really instrumental in creation of the 2013 award-winning exhibit called Expressions of the Lheidli T’enneh. This stood as a meaningful reflection of history and culture and within that exhibit, he helped create the Lheidli T’enneh timeline.”
“He was not only committed to his family and his community, but his guidance and wisdom over the last 15 years has been instrumental in shaping The Exploration Place,” added Leier.
A Go Fund Me has been set up for those who want to assist Seymour’s family during this time.
So far, over $5,100 has been raised.
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