Tsawwassen First Nation honours whale’s short life
Cause of humpback’s death remains unclear
Tsawwassen First Nation held a ceremony to honour a dead humpback whale that washed up on shore Friday.
The whale, which appears to be juvenile, was towed away by the Coast Guard for a necropsy. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating.
It remains unclear whether the whale — which washed up not far from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal — was hit by a boat or whether it died from an illness.
Andrea Jacobs, executive council for the Tsawwassen First Nation, said about six members gathered on the beach to hold a traditional Aboriginal ceremony to honour the young whale’s life.
An elder said a prayer and some members played drums during the short ceremony.
“All animals are sacred, so we really wanted to send it on its way, and to say thank you,” said Jacobs.
She said the Tsawwassen First Nation will be waiting for the necropsy results to find out what happened.
The humpback whale was one of two dead whales that washed up on B.C.’s coast this week.
On Wednesday, a dead baby orca whale was found on Nootka Island. First Nations there held a ceremony for the whale Thursday.
The 225-kilogram orca had to be lifted from the beach by helicopter and then transported by DFO on a Zodiac to Gold River. The whale will be sent to the provincial Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford for a necropsy.
Three members of the southern resident population have already died this year. However, the Center for Whale Research does not believe this latest dead baby orca was a southern resident whale.
All animals are sacred, so we really wanted to send it on its way, and to say thank you.” Andrea Jacobs