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B.C. First Nation mourns 91Ƶheartbreaking91Ƶ death of beached orca mom

Community to hold dinner to gather and connect with culture
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Ehattesaht First Nation chief Simon John said that seeing a Kakawin (orca) pass away on a local beach was 91Ƶheartbreaking.91Ƶ

On March 23, a passing road maintenance crew spotted the killer whale stranded on a gravel bar in a Little Espinoza Inlet lagoon near the village of Ehatis on Vancouver Island. The community and DFO responded to help the whale, but were unsuccessful in trying to save her.

91ƵThey are such magnificent animals and I have been with them on the water almost my whole life. But they are always at a bit of distance. Being so close and touching her seeing her calf and being so helpless is hard to describe. Its really upsetting and we had so many from the local community there to help but when you have a sad ending it really is hard on everyone who was there,91Ƶ John said.

A statement from Ehattesaht Chief and Council says that in Ehattesaht stories, the killer whale came onto the land and transformed into the wolf. The wolf then transformed into man.

91ƵIt is really important to remember that we are connected to these animals and I believe these events are really difficult but really important,91Ƶ John said. 91ƵEveryone is to a certain extent and we have to take a bit of time to think what it means to us all.

The statement says that the priority now is to assist the whale91Ƶs calf in reuniting her with her pod.

91ƵFor the next few days we will be concentrating on the baby and we will be giving her a name. kwiisaḥiʔis (kwee-sa- hay-is) (Brave Little Hunter) But we will have to think about her safety and limiting all the human interaction so we will be closing the road for most of the day with local traffic only passing,91Ƶ John said. 91ƵI know people will want to visit and help but really DFO and ourselves need some time to formulate a plan and we need to think about the little one.91Ƶ

The statement also said that the lagoon has a narrow entrance and that a future goal will be to widen or otherwise improve the entrance to the lagoon so something like this cannot happen again.

91ƵIt was always been a hunting ground for the killer whales looking for seals and I guess she went to far up the beach at the exact wrong time,91Ƶ John said. 91ƵIt is something we will want fixed.91Ƶ

The events have had a major effect on the community, in particular the team that went out to help the whale.

91ƵWe want to support the team that went out to help and we need to thank them. You know we work on big things all the time,91Ƶ John said. 91ƵOur people, the toxic drugs, UNDRIP and reconciliation, jobs but then something like this happens and you are forced to reconnect. I think there is something here. Telling us to reconnect. Take this time and focus on one thing and try to do it to the best of our teachings and what the experts have to offer.91Ƶ

Ehattesaht First Nation will be holding a community dinner to allow people to gather, share a meal and connect with their culture and teachings.

91ƵThese are events that reawaken our people and our connection to the land, the water and the animals,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵI am not sure but sometimes in the sad events we gather strength. I think that is important.91Ƶ

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Marc Kitteringham

About the Author: Marc Kitteringham

I joined Black press in early 2020, writing about the environment, housing, local government and more.
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