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Spirits of the Coast: Orcas in science, art and history - Hardcover | Diverse Reads

Spirits of the Coast: Orcas in science, art and history

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"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life." —Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation

Spirits of the Coast brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists, and storytellers, united by their enchantment with the orca.

Long feared in settler cultures as "killer whales," and respected and honored by Indigenous cultures as friends, family, or benefactors, orcas are complex social beings with culture and language of their own. With contributors ranging from Briony Penn to David Suzuki, Gary Geddes and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, this collection brings together diverse voices, young and old, to explore the magic, myths, and ecology of orcas.

A richly illustrated literary and visual journey through past and possibility, Spirits of the Coast illustrates how these enigmatic animals have shaped us as much as our actions have impacted them, and provokes the reader to imagine the shape of our shared future.

ISBN-13: 9780772677686

Media Type: Hardcover

Publisher: The Royal British Columbia Museum

Publication Date: 06-05-2020

Pages: 216

Product Dimensions: 8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.80(d)

Dr. Martha Black has been the curator of Indigenous collections at the Royal BC Museum since 1997. Dr. Lorne Hammond has been the curator of history at the Royal BC Museum since 1997. Dr. Gavin Hanke is the curator of vertebrate zoology at the Royal BC Museum. Nikki Sanchez is a Pipil/Maya and Irish/Scottish academic, Indigenous media maker, and environmental educator. With original essays and poetry by Ken Balcomb, Adam Bell, Lawrence Bell, bill bisset, Jason Colby, Rande Cook, Gary Geddes, Jess Housty, Steve Huxter, Marianne Ignace, Valeen Jules, Mark Leiren-Young, Jack Lohman, Misty MacDuffee, Alex Morton, Briony Penn, Paul Spong, David Suzuki, Severn Cullis-Suzuki and Jared Towers; artwork by Fanny Aïshaa, Jesse Campbell, Rande Cook, Frieda Diesing, Andy Everson, Christian Geissler, James Harry, Noelle Jones, Haley Kailiehu, Eric Mazimpaka, Paul Morstad, Art Thompson, Ray Troll, Chris von Szombathy, Santiago X and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, and photography by Lance Barrett-Lennard, April Bencze, Tavish Campbell, Holly Fearnbach, Steve Huxter, Jukka Jantunen, Emma Luck, Lillie Louise Major, Adrien Mullin, Jim Ryan, Jared Towers, Kyler Vos, Matt Whelan and Taylor Shedd.

Table of Contents

Foreword Jack Lohman, CBE ix

Introduction Nikki Sanchez 1

Connection

sGaana sGaanagwa Diane Brown Severn Cullis-Suzuki 7

We need Orcas More Than They Need Us David Suzuki 9

A Bond Through Salmon, Language and Grandmothers Misty MacDuffee 17

The Peace Treaty Rande Cook Charlie Matilpi 31

The Ocean People Martha Black 36

The Two Brothers at Tiiaan Adam Bell Marianne Ignace Lawrence Bell 52

Killer Whales of the Southern Hemisphere Jared Towers Rebecca Wellard 61

Killer Whales ken Balcomb 68

Captivity

Killer Whale bill bisset 70

Killer Whales I've Known Steve Huxter 84

Learning to Love the Sea Wolves Jason M. Colby 94

Swimming into Popular Culture Lorne Hammond 105

Collecting Culture Gavin Hanke 122

Beginnings Paul Spong 133

Killer Whales Who Changed the World Mark Leiren-Young 142

Consciousness

Orcie the Orca Oak Orca School 153

Learning to Live with Whales Alex Morton 157

J-35 Gary Geddes 163

Luna the Lonely Political Whale Briony Penn 166

Kinship Jess Housty 175

Kakaw In Valeen Jules Patti Frank Julia Lucas 182

Orcinus Orca Skaanaa 186

Artists' Statements 190

Contributors 194

Index 204