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O Si'am ne schaleche sii'am (dear friends and relations),
50 years ago on August 8th, a young Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) was violently taken from her Sk'aliCh'elh family (the Southern Resident Killer Whales). She was taken from the Lummi people, for whom orcas are qwe'lhol'mechen, "our relations under water." 50 years ago on September 23rd, Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut was moved in a tiny tank at Miami Seaquarium. For 50 years too many, Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut has been held captive, and made to perform daily for her food.
During this 50th anniversary period, from August 8th through September 23, we are hoping to gather as many prayers, petition signatures, and funds as possible, all of which will directly support our Xa xalh Xechnging (sacred obligation) to bring Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut home to Xw'ullemy (the Salish Sea).
Hy'shqe (thank you)!
Change is coming
Two Lummi tribal members are calling for Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut to be brought home to the Salish Sea. They are invoking their legal, cultural, spiritual, and kinship rights. Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Morris) and Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley) are supported in this work by Earth Law Center and the world's top orca scientists, researchers, veterinarians, and experts in captive cetacean release.
A comprehensive plan for Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut's safe and successful homecoming and legal strategies for her release are currently in the works. We are hopeful that Miami Seaquarium and their parent companies (EQT, Parques Reunidos, and Palace Entertainment) will partner with us in bringing her home to the Salish Sea. Regardless, we will bring her home. You can support and engage in this work by:
- holding a water ceremony like those being conducted throughout the world during this anniversary period and uploading video to our Facebook event page
- signing the Earth Law Center petition
- donating to SacredSea.org on our secure website donation page
Please click buttons above for links and more detail. We also encourage you to watch the recording of Orca Network's virtual anniversary event that was held on August 8th.
Background
The Lummi people have been in a reciprocal relationship with qwe’lhol'mechen since time immemorial. Last summer, Lummi Nation held a Sna’teng, a traditional naming ceremony, for the Southern Resident Killer Whale population. Traditional names connect family members to one another, to ancestors, to culture, and to spirit. In receiving the name Sk’aliCh’elh, these specific qwe’lhol’mechen were affirmed as members of the Lummi family.
Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut is a member of the Sk’aliCh’elh family, as her name shows. Squil-le-he-le has said, “She is is part of our community. It's our Xa xalh Xechnging (sacred obligation) to bring our relation out of captivity at Miami Seaquarium, to bring her safely home to Xw'ullemy."
"She was taken from her family and her culture when she was just a child, like so many of our children were taken from us and placed in Indian boarding schools. Reuniting her with her family, reuniting her with us, helps make us all whole," explained Tah-Mahs. "We're at a time when we all need healing. We’re all family, qwe'lhol'mechen and Lummi people. What happens to them, happens to us."
Our hands go up to you and all of our supporters, friends, and partners. Contributions to the Tokitae Fund can be made at www.SacredSea.org; all donations are tax-deductible and directly fund our work to free Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut.
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