Severn Cullis-Suzuki

This book begins where it should, with a tale of supernatural Orcas told by GwaaGanad Diane Brown, Ts'aahl Eagle woman of the Haida Nation, to her daughter-in-law Kihlgula Gaay-ya Severn Cullis-Suzuki. Some young Haida men embarked on a hunting trip only to be lost at sea. They returned after three years with a tale of living in Japan, then having the privilege of being guided back to their home by the Orcas. With this story begins, a lovely book about Orcas and their interconnectedness to us.

This book is a collection of essays, stories, photos, and art. As one might expect from a book curated by the Royal BC Museum, this is a respectful, factual and beautiful account of Orcas. The written contributions cover a wide variety of topics: political discussions about the health and future of Orcas, their captivity for study, the distinctiveness of the BC Coastal Orca pods, multiple threats the whales face, stories told by Indigenous people.

One of the common themes of the Indigenous stories in the book is the connection that is felt between the Orca and the various peoples of the Coast. Agreements were made in the past with the Orcas to exist in harmony, the Orcas have saved Indigenous people who were in danger. there is a beautiful Haida story that reveals that Orcas are the "embodied souls of humans" who drowned at sea.

This book isn't all history and science. There is a fascinating chapter on pop culture and the ongoing evolution of its relationship with the Orca. We have gone from hunting to watching them in captivity, to wanting to free them. The easily recognizable image of the Orca has been in films, books, TV shows, on baseball caps and lunch boxes. There are famous Orcas that we have embraced over the years, not all of whom have lived happily or in the wild. But we've always been intrigued by them.

This book would make a beautiful gift for someone with connections to the Salish sea, but it's also amazing to read if you just love Orcas. This is such an interesting mix of stories, essays, photos, and artwork. I would gladly recommend this to any reader.… (altro)