Your memory is a light to guide us...
Raised by his maternal grandmother in Tla’amin Nation, Tlesla Leslie Adams had quite a start.
He met his wife, Mary “Janie” Wilson, at Sechelt Residential School in 1953. They married in 1959 and over their 63 years of marriage, they had seven children, 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
When Leslie was a young man, he was a logger, but his main career was working at the Powell River mill, as a tugboat captain, where he worked for 37 years.
He was voted in as chief of Tla’amin at the age of 27 and was chief for eight years.
Throughout life, Les excelled in sports. In his younger years, he made it to the Bronze Gloves competition in boxing. In 1955, Les was named soccer’s Golden Boy at the BC provincial Tournament of Champions, and was also named to the BC All Stars two years in a row (1955 and 1956). He was inducted into the Powell River Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
“Poppa” was proud to be First Nations. He was an avid hunter, gardener and fisherman. He was extremely knowledgeable of the land and waters within our Tla’amin territory.
Xatnomesht Kookpa. We love you, Poppa.
Tees-stomesht. We respect you.
Emaweegah. Until we meet again.
