Plans to reunite whale with pod delayed

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The saga of Tsuxiit (Luna) continues as plans to relocate the killer whale have now been postponed. After several unsuccessful attempts in late June to reunite Tsuxiit with its pod in Pedder Bay, located near Victoria, members of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) have arranged a meeting this month to discuss ways they can resolve this issue.

"DFO have been meeting with some members of the band and until those meetings are done we won't really know when we will be deferring relocation. Our commitment is still to relocate the whale but we want to do it in such a way that it's agreeable to everyone," Lara Sloan, a communications officer at DFO, said in June.

On June 16 and 22, attempts by DFO to capture Tsuxiit in Nootka Sound were thwarted when band members took to the water in traditional canoes and lured the whale away from the net pen DFO intended to use for the capture. Tsuxiit is believed to be the reincarnation of former chief Hawilth, the father of current Mowachaht/Muchalaht chief Michael Maquinna. Tsuxiit first appeared to the Native people about one week after Maquinna's father died in 2001. Maquinna hopes that an understanding between the First Nation and the federal government can be reached."I would hope that given the education that we've all gone through that there is a mutual understanding that nature needs to take its course, and if not, then perhaps something needs to be worked out (which is) more respect and mindful of Tsuxiit the whale and that the First Nations are involved in any planning at all," said Maquinna. "If he so chooses to go with his family that's great. If he so chooses to be here, that's fine."

DFO has been informed on several occasions by the band it is opposed to the relocation of Tsuxiit from their traditional territory in the Nootka Sound.

"The parties who are attempting to forcibly move the orca ... are demonstrating a clear lack of understanding of and respect for the First Nation's traditional beliefs. This animal holds great cultural and spiritual significance for the community. Whether it is a case of spiritual belief or managing resources, DFO officials have legal and moral obligations to consult with the community itself on how to deal with these matters and cannot simply 'inform' us after the fact," said Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Sloan acknowledged that the band "did make their concerns known to DFO and we did understand the cultural and spiritual significance of this whale. But it didn't address the public safety issue and that's our number one priority. The Canadian government's responsible for safe and navigable waters."

Tsuxiit has posed something of a threat to people travelling through Nootka Sound, according to DFO. The friendly whale has been seen getting dangerously close to boats and float planes.

"It was our initial intention to leave him in Nootka Sound with the hopes that he could remain a wild whale and not pose a threat, and after two years of watching him there, and a pretty intensive stewardship strategy, we looked at it and said you know this needs to be done. There's also that time window that the longer he is apart from his pod, the less likely he may be to reunite," said Sloan.

Maquinna said pamphlets that suggest community members "keep a distance, have respect" and discourage interaction with the whale has been handed out to ensure safety for residents and Tsuxiit.

Sloan could not comment on whether any further attempts to move Tsuxiit will be made this year. She did say early summer is usually the best time of the year to reunite him with his pod because he comes into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and San Juan Island area in late May to early June every year."The area that we were going to relocate him to at this time of year, his pod generally swims by, they go on forays for food every 48 hours so they swim by the Pedder Bay area..so that provides really good timing. They do stay in the area until late fall, sometimes as late as December and so those opportunities are still there. This is generally the most opportune time but it doesn't mean that it's not a possibility later on in the year," said Sloan.