Band to continue Luna stewardship while awaiting funds

Judith Lavoie
Times Colonist
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation is guarding Luna the solitary orca though no funding agreement has been reached with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The operation, named Kakawin Guardians -- Kakawin is a Nuu-chah-nulth word for an orca -- has to start now because fishing season is underway in Nootka Sound, said Chief Mike Maquinna.

"We're concerned that human activities may endanger Tsu'xiit," he said, using the First Nation's name for the orca. "To us, his safety is so important that we must do this immediately."

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht believe Luna embodies the spirit of their dead chief Ambrose Maquinna. The whale, five years old now, turned up in Nootka Sound in 2001, days after the death of the chief.

The First Nation estimates that dockside education and boat patrols for 16 hours a day, seven days a week during the summer months would cost $177,000.

The budget has been submitted to DFO, but the group hopes to raise money from other sources as well.

Start-up costs of the four-month-long program will come from the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht fishery-management budget, Maquinna said.

"Whether or not DFO provides funding, we hope it will at least support our work with enforcement and other resources," he said.

Daily patrols will be made in the band's fisheries management boats to deter any interaction with Luna and to let boaters know they are in "the Kakawin's territory," Maquinna said.

The program will also look for ways to help Luna expand his territory to areas where he could hear the calls of L pod if it are in the vicinity, he said.

L pod includes Luna's mother and sibling. Although the band opposes any efforts to physically relocate Luna, members would be happy if Luna chose to rejoin his pod.

Last year, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht thwarted DFO's attempts to capture the whale and relocate him to the waters off southern Vancouver Island where his pod was spending the summer.

DFO spokeswoman Lara Sloan said efforts are being made to arrange a meeting with band representatives. In the meantime, the guardian program is likely to help fisheries officers in the area.

"We do need both out there. There has to be stewardship and the fisheries officers enforcing the law," she said.