Special Alert!

It’s long been since time . . .

Bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut Home!

A sacred request from
Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Morris) and
Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley)

“Our Lhaq’temish [Lummi] people have had a special relationship with our killer whales since time immemorial. We know them as qwe’lhol’mechen, which means “people under the water.”  Our stories tell of intermarriage and kinship between our Lhaq’temish people and a local qwe’lhol’mechen clan we know as Sk’aliCh’elh.

Fifty years ago, as our own children were being stolen and sent to boarding schools, one of the Sk’aliCh’elh children was stolen and sold to the Miami Seaquarium. We call this orca whale “Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut,” which means daughter of Sk’aliCh’elh. She is our Lhaq’temish daughter, too. She has been held in a small concrete tank and forced to perform for her food since 1970.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People recognizes and uphold our rights to our culture, our spirituality, our families.  In order for our Lhaq’temish culture, spirituality, and family to be whole, we must bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut home. We are working with the world’s top scientists and experts on how to do this responsibly. We have a plan, but we do not yet have Miami Seaquarium’s agreement to release her into our care.

We are asking all individuals to sign our Petition, as put forth by our partners at the Earth Law Center.”

Hy’shqe,

Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Morris)
Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley)
Enrolled members of Lummi Nation

Please pass this onto family, friends, allies and partners.  Ask them to sign the petition.  It is believed that an overwhelming show of support, Miami Seaquarium’s parent companies might do the right thing and allow the Lhaq’temish people to bring their relation home to the Salish Sea, where they and her orca family await her.

For more information, check the links below:

Links: 

• Ceremonies for Ska’liCh’elh-tenaut Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Ceremonies-for-Skalichelh-tenaut-111624844000057
• SacredSea.org Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut page: https://sacredsea.org/skalichelhtenaut/
• Petition link: https://www.change.org/p/miami-seaquarium-free-endangered-orca-held-captive-at-miami-seaquarium-for-50-years
• SacredSea YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qWShmGWtn3HPU-cpWj81Q

Thank you for your ongoing support of Lummi Nation!