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Sophie Woodrooffe Photos – April 15, 2019

Last Friday shíshálh Nation community members, dignitaries and those involved in salvaging the corpse of southern resident killer whale J34 in 2016 were invited to a special opening ceremony for the tems swiya Museum exhibit. As of Monday, April 15, the skeleton display of J34, who was renamed kwentens ?e te sinkwu by shíshálh elders, is open to the public. “It has huge, huge significance for us. We found a resting place for him and we can pay tribute to him,” Chief Warren Paull told Coast Reporter at the opening celebrations. Speakers included Chief Warren Paull, Sid Quinn, resource management director for shíshálh Nation, DFO marine mammals coordinator Paul Cottrell, Mike de Roos of Cetacea Contracting Ltd, veterinary pathologist Stephen Raverty, former chief Calvin Craigan, museum curator Raquel Joe, and Steven Feschuk, protector of culture for shíshálh Nation.