'He’s pulled generations along with him': Ucluelet teen completes third year of university degree
Although they’re separated by a decade in age, Hjalmer and his younger brother Timmy have always connected as the best of friends.
“We get along like a house on fire, so that helps!” Hjalmer laughs.
“We’ve always been right beside each other,” Timmy smiles.
Their journey took a turn a few years ago when Hjalmer was recovering from brain surgery.
“I had to learn to read and write and walk and talk,” Hjalmer recalls.
The older brother had to try and do all that while still attending university. So Timmy, who was 10 years old then, decided to postpone his schooling to support Hjalmer with his.
“I carried his bags and helped him take notes,” Timmy says.
“More than anything [he was] a huge support,” Hjalmer adds.
Helping his big brother with his physical struggle was one thing. Supporting his mental health was another.
“It was definitely hard to see that person beside you [who’s] so strong being weighed down by that,” Timmy says.
So they began making weekly visits to the University of Victoria’s First People’s House and Hjalmer started experiencing profound healing.
“When he was there [Timmy] just fell in love with the power that Coast Salish language and prayer and song had,” Hjalmer says.
“I was truly shocked at the amount that these elders knew,” Timmy says. “And from that I desperately wanted to learn my language.”
With Hjalmer on the mend, Timmy returned to Ucluelet, B.C., but was disappointed to find limited opportunities to really learn the Nuu-chah-nulth language in elementary school. So the then 11-year-old got special permission to take a couple university classes on the language.
“As I started to learn my language, I felt so strong in my identity as well,” Timmy says.
The feeling compelled Timmy to complete the language course, which made him eligible to teach when he was just 13.
“In Grade 8, I started teaching Nuu-chah-nulth language in my school,” Timmy smiles.
Timmy didn’t stop there. By Grade 9, he’d convinced UVic to let him pursue a diploma in language revitalization, which he achieved.
And by the time he’d graduated from Grade 12 this year, Timmy had also completed the first three years of a bachelor's degree in education.
“He’s pulled generations along with him,” Hjalmer says. “He’s asked us to come along this journey with him.”
Now the brothers are collaborating on creating music and dance videos like this one. It features Hjalmer’s carvings, Timmy’s writing, and subtitles in both Nuu-chah-nulth and English.
“We made it public so everybody could learn from it,” Timmy says. “The first step to bringing back language is having resources that people can use.”
“You can see how it's [inspiring] young people. I see my children speaking the language now,” Hjalmer smiles. “It’s because of their Uncle Tim who’s still our little boy!”
A “little boy” whose big brother couldn’t feel more proud.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.