Below is a request from Lummi Nation. As some of you may know, Lummi Nation is seeking the return of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita). For those of you who don’t know, Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) is the last remaining Orca that was brutally taken in the 1970s raids on the J, L, K pods from Penn Cove. Over 40 Orca youth were taken from our waters and dispersed to various aquarium around the world. Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) is growing older now and is near retirement from the aquarium. She has spent all but 4 years of her life (about 43 years) in a small concrete tank. She still remembers her pod’s songs. Lummi Nation has been trying to get Miami Seaquarium to release her and let her come home to spend her remaining years in the waters of her home and with her family (her mother is still alive). She will be kept in a special sanctuary and a detailed plan has been worked out to bring her home and secure her for the remainder of her life.
Miami Seaquarium has refused to let her come home.
Lummi Nation is calling for a prayer sending on October 10th, however, if y’all could include a few moments this Sunday during your services or whatever day that you hold them if not on the 10th, it would greatly be appreciated.
“We will be together in prayer for Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut next Thursday, October 10, at 9:30am. We are asking you all to join us from wherever you are. Please say her name, please pray in your own way, please carry her in in your heart. We want Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut to feel our love, we want to send her hope and strength. Please pray for Miami Seaquarium to do the right thing and work in a good way with us to bring her home in 2020. Hy’shqe.”Statement from Raynell Squil-le-he-le Morris and Ellie Tah-Mahs Kinley, the two Lummi tribal women intending to sue Miami Seaquarium, Palace Entertainment, and EQT, for the return of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut. (Tokitae/Lolita). Miami Seaquarium has until October 25, 2019 (90 days from the date of the letter of intent) to respond.
You can find more information here: https://sacredsea.org/skalichelhtenaut/. Take a few minutes to read and watch some of the videos, especially the link to the trailer for a documentary (https://vimeo.com/266726774).
Then say a prayer . . .
I have a story about Tokitae are at lease a member of her family. Am 56 now and I grew up on Lummi island and spent most of my days when not in the small island school. I seen lots of amazing things that I didn’t understand out there as a small boy from old WW2 ship mine floating up on our beach and Strange Things found like old fossils. Anyways I was playing in a small row boat in the cove my daily fun when the boat made a Big bang and move very quickly side ways I hit the bottom of the boat not knowing what happened as I got up there was a big eye looking at me I didn’t know what to do I knew they were called killer whales and being that I was truly scared she did not move she just stared at me I talked to her asked what she wanted she didn’t move I slowly reached my hand to her she let me touch her and pet her she rolled to I could touch her back and then went down and slowly disappear. I have always felt different about whales and other marine life ever sense. I truly do hope she comes home so I might possibly see her again before my and her time is up here.