middle of the sky

Natives to be paid $48K for Luna deal
Band that prevented orca's capture now monitoring it

Glenda Luymes
The Province
Wednesday, August 10, 2005

A deal that will see a native band paid $48,000 to keep an eye on Luna, Gold River's wayward killer whale, will likely be signed today.

A copy of the agreement between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Mowachaht-Muchalaht native band was sent to Gold River about a week ago, DFO spokesman Bill Shaw said yesterday.

Mike Maquinna, the band's chief, said the band will likely sign the agreement after meeting with Shaw one more time today.

"The band will be responsible for education and outreach about Luna and the potential for interaction on the water," said Shaw.

The deal provides $48,000 for a band-run stewardship program.

Last year the Mowachaht-Muchalaht were paid $10,000 to monitor Luna after they thwarted efforts to capture him and reunite him with his L pod.

The band believes the orca is the embodiment of the spirit of dead chief Ambrose Maquinna and wants Luna left alone until a ceremonial potlatch is held this November.

Shaw said the band has been handing out pamphlets about the whale, trying to prevent almost daily encounters with boaters.

"The agreement is about education, so that boaters know how to react when Luna is in the vicinity," he said.

"If they know to move away and leave the whale, there won't be negative encounters."

The band will also be monitoring Luna with "spotter scopes," recording his position and detailing any encounters, then passing on the information to DFO in a weekly conference call.

"There's nothing dangerous about the whale," said Maquinna.

"If the whale comes up and rubs on a boat there is the possibility of disabling equipment, but that wouldn't happen if people would leave the whale alone."