![]() “We want to be prepared if it happens again,” he said. Maquinna is concerned about the mammals dying in his territory, and noted that his First Nation hopes to see the results of the necropsy to determine if they should be aware of any hazards for killer whales in Nootka Sound. ![]() “The results of the DNA analysis may help identify the population or ecotype of this animal, while a necropsy may identify the cause of death,” said the DFO. “There are four different ecotypes of killer whales that frequent the coast of B.C.: Offshores (shark eaters), Transients (mammal eaters), Northern Residents (salmon eaters), and Southern Residents (also salmon eaters).” The whale’s body will be sent to the provincial Animal Health Centre in Abbotford, while analysis of the DNA sample will identify what population the orca came from. “Our fishery officers in the area located the animal yesterday, and were able to collect a DNA sample for analysis despite difficult conditions and the remoteness of the location,” stated Fisheries and Oceans Canada in an email to the Ha-Shilth-Sa on Nov. It is yet to be determined if the kakaw`in belongs to the northern or southern resident killer whale populations, which are respectfully threatened and endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. “Forty, 50 years ago there used to be 30, 40 whales going by here, but now I only see four to six killer whales going by.” ![]() “We don’t see them often anymore,” said Williams, noting that sightings have decreased each year since his youth. 14 after the hiker notified the federal fisheries department. A DFO official informed him of the discovery on Wednesday, Nov. Ray Williams, who has lived in Yuquot for his whole life, resides in the villages’ only household. “Thanks to our elders and community members for showing up, and being very supportive.” “We had a bit of a ceremony to send the spirit of the orca home,” said Tyee Ha’wilth Mike Maquinna. The orca was airlifted by helicopter onto a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) vessel, then transported to the Gold River boat ramp, where Mowachaht/Muchalaht elders performed a ceremony for the kakaw`in, which means killer whale in Nuu-chah-nulth. The calf was found by a hiker on a beach near Beano Creek, located northwest of Yuquot on Nootka Island’s southern shore. On Thursday elders from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation marked the passing of a significant being in the Nuu-chah-nulth world, after a baby killer whale was discovered on Nootka Island Wednesday.
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