It is with a heavy heart that we share that Tokitae, a Southern Resident Orca held unjustly in captivity for 53 years, has passed away. To honor her memory, this week we are rebroadcasting our episode with Kurt Russo on the People Under the Sea, originally aired in October of 2018. This conversation explores the powerful memory held by Southern Resident orcas, the threats they face from vessel noise, chemical pollutants, and declining Chinook salmon population, the health of the Salish Sea, and the efforts of the Lummi Nation to return Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (also  known as Tokitae/Lolita), from where she was being held captive at Miami Seaquarium, to her natal waters in the Salish Sea. Tokitae’s life ended while in captivity, but we hope that her memory may serve to inspire the fight for right-relationship and reciprocity with our more-than-human-kin.

Kurt Russo has worked on environmental issues, land preservation, and treaty rights with the Lummi Nation for 40 years. He is the Executive Director of The Foundation for Indigenous Medicine and the former Director of The Native American Land Conservancy. He holds a BS and MS in Forestry and a Ph.D. in History.

We are honored to once again share this episode with you as a profound reminder of the place we share with the qwe 'lhol mechen, their capacity for memory, grief, and love, and the many ways that the Lummi Nation continues to protect, defend, and restore the Salish Sea.

♫ The music featured in this episode is "H-O" by Monplaisir and "Action" by Amoeba.

Episode References

To learn more about Lummi Nation’s Salish Sea campaign and the return of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut, visit Sacred Sea

To learn more about Kurt’s work visit Se'Si'Le 

‘She is finally home’: activists mourn Toki’s death and find meaning in rare whale meetup - The Guardian

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