AR-News: Natives threaten to stop Luna move

[jim robertson]

Interestingly, the Nu-cha-nulth are the founders of the "World Council of 
Whalers"
http://www.worldcouncilofwhalers.com/indexical.html

Natives threaten to stop Luna move

Judith Lavoie
Times Colonist


June 16, 2004


GOLD RIVER -- Two wooden Nuu-chah-nulth canoes paddled by 16 members of the 
Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation will be out on the waters of Nootka Sound 
this morning, trying to prevent the capture of Luna the killer whale.

As members of the band gathered to barbecue salmon Tuesday evening, a solemn 
faced Chief Michael Maquinna told them it was time to take action because 
agencies such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have ignored their 
pleas to leave the orca in Nootka Sound.

"This is not games anymore, this is serious," he said.

"We are a people who are very proud of who we are and there are people out 
there that want to take something away from us that belongs to us. Something 
that wants to be here."

Maquinna said the whale capture is taking place in Mowachaht-Muchalaht 
territory and is infringing on something culturally connected to the band.

The orca appeared one week after grand chief Ambrose Maquinna died. The 
First Nation believes the spirit of the chief is in the whale.

full story:
http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/story.html?id=4c0b0cbf-b24c-41e9-ae5a-7e4b2232e83f




"Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do," "You've seen one redwood, 
you've seen them all." -- Ronald Reagan

"No matter how cynical you get, it's impossible to keep up." -- Lily Tomlin