Article Added On: May 20, 2005 - over 6 years ago
Title: Tsux'iit: Understanding Indigenous Spirituality
Author: Kim Petersen
Publication: The Dominion
Publication Date: January 01, 2005 - over 7 years ago
Faith Groups: Native Spirituality
Themes: other

Abstract: A story about the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) believes that Tsux'iit, a killer whale, is their late Chief Ambrose Maquinna

May 20, 2005

Since 1493, when Pope Alexander VI granted Spain dominion over the "Americas" and gave Africa, the Caribbean and a bit of present-day Brazil to Portugal, the conquest of the "Americas" has been sanctioned by Christian religious authorities. While the native Original Peoples have been forcibly made familiar with Christianity, the settlers' contemporary understanding of the plethora of indigenous religions remains vague at best.

On the west coast of Vancouver Island, a modern day clash of beliefs is playing out. Canadian officials have attempted to subordinate the reverence for life that is integral to the spirituality of the communities that have lived there for thousands of years.

The majestic killer whales (Orcinus orca) are the largest dolphins, which have become emblematic of the province of British Columbia where they swim in residential pods or as wide-ranging transients. In 1999, a killer whale was born to L-pod, the largest of the southern resident pods that ply the waters of the Pacific Northwest. In July 2001, this young killer whale, L98, turned up alone on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island in Nootka Sound (where British navigator James Cook received a hearty welcome in 1778. The name Nootka is believed to derive from Cook's poor rendering of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth tongue).

The juvenile cetacean took up residence near Gold River -- a small community situated inland on Muchalaht Inlet -- and received intense media attention. The killer whale was named Luna in a contest sponsored by a Seattle newspaper because it "explores the ocean like the moon explores the earth"; however, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) named it Tsux'iit after their late Chief Ambrose Maquinna. "Chief Ambrose said he'd like to come back as a Kakawin [killer whale in Nuu-Chah-Nulth language]," said Jamie James, MMFN fisheries manager. "Four days after his death, Tsux'iit showed up." According to James, in the MMFN culture everything works as 'fours.' Therefore, Tsux'iit's appearance was an auspicious event for the MMFN.

James explained, "Chiefs believe that when they die they shape-shift into other animals that walk this earth. In the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation culture the Kakawin is the enforcer of the Sea, the Wolf is the enforcer of Land and the Eagle is the enforcer of the Air. All living creatures have a significant purpose in their lives in relation to the water, land, and air. The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation has always been the protector of their land and resources for thousands of years and continues to this day."

Some thought that Tsux'iit would eventually rejoin L-pod but this has so far not transpired. Tsux'iit seemed healthy and his boisterous antics and friendliness began to draw tourists to a community still recovering from the economic loss of its pulp mill in 1998. However, it was feared that Tsux'iit 's curiosity for boats and human contact was putting him at risk and steps were taken to minimize direct contact. Based on the successful reuniting of another killer whale, Springer, with its pod, Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) made plans to move Tsux'iit.

Dave Wiwchar, media and communications advisor to MMFN Chief Mike Maquinna and editor of Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper stated, "DFO hadn't consulted Mowachaht/Muchalaht at all about their plans for Tsux'iit."

"For DFO just to go in and enforce their views on residents of Gold River and Mowachaht/Muchalaht who have been there since time immemorial seemed like the wrong thing to do."

MMFN people believe in the right of the whale to rejoin L-pod. However, added James, "We object to the techniques of the DFO to move Tsux'iit back down: throw him into a pen, then the back of a truck, with no certainty of whether he will rejoin his pod or not."

MMFN had qualms about the planned move; the outcome was confrontation. When DFO and the Vancouver Aquarium -- of ignominious history vis-