kwiisa岣蕯is (kwee-sa-hay-is), the juvenile orca that has been trapped in shallow water near Zeballos, B.C. has swam out of the lagoon and re-entered deeper water.
At 2:30 a.m. during high tide under a clear, star-filled night sky, kwiisa岣蕯is swam past the sand bar where her mother died, under the bridge at the end of the lagoon and down Little Espinosa Inlet and into the larger Esperanza inlet all on her own.
Ehattesaht and Nuchatlaht members Rob John, Judea Smith, Ashley John and Victoria Wells alongside people from DFO鈥檚 Marine Mammal Response and Bay Cetology, spent the evening feeding her. kwiisa岣蕯is spent the night breaching and playing near the end of the lagoon and causeway bridge. When most of the team had left to get some sleep, a small group remained to stand as witnesses and watch kwiisa岣蕯is swim under the bridge and down the inlet.
In the morning, the team found her in Espinosa Inlet, and followed along from a distance as she moved to the larger Esperanza Inlet. The plan from there is to follow and encourage her to swim towards the open ocean, where it is hoped the Brave Little Hunter鈥檚 calls will be heard by her family.
鈥淭oday the community of Zeballos and people everywhere are waking up to some incredible news and what can only be described as pride for strength this little orca has shown,鈥� says a release from 蕯ii岣tis/ 膷 iinax峄媙t Chief and council.
Next steps are to increase patrols and protective measures to make sure that the whale has no contact with boats or people. The Nations and DFO have asked that boaters keep clear of the area.
鈥淲ith this part of the challenged solved by kwiisa岣蕯is herself every opportunity needs to be afforded to have her back with her family with as little human interaction as possible,鈥� the release says.
鈥淓hattesaht and Indigenous people across Canada are writing new stories in these modern times reinforcing the presence of a deep connection between the spirit world, the animal world and the people who have remained on the land and waters for all time,鈥� it says. 鈥淓vents like these have a deeper meaning and the timing of her departure will be thought about, talked about and felt for generations to come.鈥�
Chief Simon John wrote in the release that the Nations are 鈥渄eeply moved and eternally grateful鈥� to all of the people who have been with them on this journey.
More to come鈥�
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