By Alissa MacMullin, Haida Gwaii Recreation Co-ordinator
On a sunlit soccer pitch in Tll.aal, riddled with patches of topsoil laid by league volunteers only days before, the GidG̱alang Ḵuuyas Naay Secondary (GKNS) Breakers girls’ soccer team played a steadfast game against the visiting Kitimat Eagles for the Single A Northwest Zones.
With a 2-0 Breakers win, hundreds of spectators on the sidelines, and people at home listening to a live play-by-play on the Haida Gwaii Radio Society livestream, the May 11 game made Haida Gwaii history.
As a 2010 GKNS alumni and former Breaker, I recall our team struggling to rally enough girls to play soccer as demographics on Haida Gwaii dwindled.
But this team, with more than 23 mostly junior players, is an absolute force.
This past weekend, the team travelled to Kamloops for provincials. We couldn’t be prouder of their efforts at home and away!
“The girls team chose to do the women’s dance as their presentation at the banquet for the provincial qualifying teams,” said coach Steve Querenjung.
“They are making us so proud with how they are representing Haida Gwaii on and off the field.”
Every player from the largest girls’ sports bench I’ve ever seen on Haida Gwaii had a chance to play on the familiar Tll.aal turf, where many began their soccer journeys.
Inside the league’s ageing clubhouse, where the toilets work only half the time, a pristine sign reads “Reilly Fields.” Back in the 1990s, Jimmy Reilly and other soccer parents built these soccer fields to establish a grassroots youth league and attract more visiting teams to the islands.
The goal has not always been easy to achieve, but the community’s dedication has not yet wavered.
These fields have seen countless hours of volunteer labour and donated materials, plus mowing, seeding, and line-painting from committed parents, soccer enthusiasts, and the business community. With over 300 youth registered in 2024, five volunteer directors, and more than 30 volunteer coaches and referees, the nine-week Haida Gwaii Youth Soccer League remains a pillar of our sports community.
Audrey Putterill, the longest-serving league director, exemplifies this dedication. Always first on-site each morning and often the last to leave, she now supports her grandson and his peers on the pitch. This year marks the first time a high school team combining youth from Port Clements and Sandspit has competed since at least the early 2000s, and Audrey herself spearheads it.
Travelling to Haida Gwaii is costly and logistically challenging, making it rare for off-island teams to visit. We owe gratitude to Kitimat and their coaches and teams for making the trek this spring.
Although the beautiful cedar-lined showers at the clubhouse remain unused, hosting competitive games at the Tll.aal soccer fields was always the intent.
GKNS coaches Steve Querenjung and Katrina Husband committed to helping the Breakers practice three days a week, including scrimmages with alumni. The team and league collaborated to host the Northwest Zones in Tll.aal, ensuring the girls had their cheering families nearby.
This past weekend, the team travelled to Kamloops for provincials. We couldn’t be prouder of their efforts at home and away! This young team has immense potential.
Thinking about next steps for the Tll.aal soccer fields, the league is planning to replace the outdated “Queen Charlotte Soccer League” sign at the entry.
We thought about putting up the “Reilly Fields” sign, but Jimmy had already said the fields aren’t his — they took a community to build.
So, the league has opted to work with the GKNS shop class to produce a new sign that will be up by the end of the season. It will read, “Haida Gwaii Soccer Fields in Tll.aal.” It’s a simple statement: these fields are for everyone.
June is also National Indigenous History Month, and as we celebrate the accomplishments and commitment to soccer and girls in sport, we must also honour Presley Kallio of G̱aw Tlagée (Old Massett) and Tymeko Collinson of HlG̱aagilda (Skidegate). These two inspiring youth received Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Excellence in Sport for their inspiring performances and community leadership.
As we celebrate all the girls’ team has achieved this season and the recognition of Presley and Tymeko, we are seeing the profound impact, especially on young women. The Tll.aal fields were born from collective effort and sustained by generations, and they continue to promote unity when we need it most.