This is my first personal response in regards to Luna / L98 / Tsuxiit

During the summer of 2003 I was a monitor for the Luna Stewardship Project and worked with Luna, DFO and First Nations for 3 months. What LSP went through was insane and to this day I am still trying to process what has happened. No one except a very few will ever understand just what we were up against. One of the most frustrating parts of this has been the isolation with what we went through. We dealt with people throwing rocks at the whale, intentionally leading the whale around via sail boats, attempting to launch kayaks with the whale for personal benefit (including media), engaging and intentionally interacting with the whale and finally even worse threats of shooting the whale (see images above). We also under went many verbal attacks even a physical one while protecting this animal and the public. We were under strict DFO order and at times had to intervene as we were asked to enforce.

I have found myself disgusted with some of the rhetoric and behavior I have both witnessed and encountered first hand. It is clear to me that some people enjoy hurting others, as I suppose this makes some people feel more powerful. This has been a monster of a situation and I have never in my life encountered more disrespect then I have with this. I keep running into ridiculous information / mis information in regards to the luna situation. The problem with that is that information is not represented correctly. Media has partaken in producing a mass hysteria around the situation sometimes producing tragic results.

I also realize that many people are very angry at the First Nations in Gold River however I disagree that people should be boycotting / attacking them, especially with the monitoring job they are doing as we too endured mistakes and you cannot track luna 24/7 which means you are unable to keep an eye on him all the time. He is a large being who can travel many miles. I understand what it is like to be attacked and know that it does not help us to progress through our differences. For example, during one verbal attack in GR, it took me 20 minutes of educating while speaking diplomatically and kindly which then resulted in a mutual sharing of respect, laughter and support for both parties. I could have pointed my fingers at them yelling and screaming as it had started however by taking another approach, we had made wonderful progress and became friends. I Also realize that DFO is under much attack however I would also like to point out that if it were not for the efforts of DFO that luna could have already been dead. Local DFO has played a huge part in keeping this whale ALIVE.

I appreciate all individuals and groups who are working in a respectful manner towards Luna’s reunification. I too hope that Luna can rejoin his family and hold out hopes of that happening. It would be great if luna could hook up with his pod this fall/winter when and if they travel north past Nootka Sound and take luna away from humans and boats for several months – teaching him to be a wild whale again with his own. That way by the time they head south down to Victoria where it is boat infested, he will have lost his interest in boats all together. Mind you at that point the decision is luna’s and none of us can force this whale to do anything. That is only my guess and I am entitled to my own opinion.

This has been an incredibly difficult journey for me. There is nothing I regret doing and I know deep down I have done nothing wrong. In my heart I felt it was right to let out what has been sitting silently with me. Disowning it as it was never meant to be my own.

With love
Orcagirl

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