Follow the story of Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut, the orca also known as Tokitae or Lolita. Stolen from her family in 1970, this Puget Sound orca was sold to the Miami Aquarium where she performed for over 50 years, told by author Ellie Kinley.
Larry Kinley and Oren Lyons reflect on the importance of cultural grounding, interconnection, and foresight, reminding us that understanding where we come from is essential to shaping a responsible future.
Ellie Kinley shares a personal and urgent account of how open-net fish farms in British Columbia threaten the survival of wild salmon and Indigenous lifeways in the Salish Sea.
This powerful short film traces the ongoing struggle of Native fishing nations to defend their treaty rights, from the Fish Wars of the 1960s to present-day protests, affirming fishing as a sovereign right and cultural lifeline.
Interwoven reflections from Indigenous leaders reveal the spiritual, ecological, and political relationships between salmon and people, urging collective responsibility to restore balance and ensure the salmon’s survival for future generations.
This short film explores the cultural and ecological importance of sockeye salmon and reef net fishing to the Lummi Nation, highlighting the deep ties between fishing traditions, family lineage, and Indigenous identity.
The YAI team talks with The Sacred Sea organization about their mission to return Sk’ali Ch’elh-tenaut, a captive orca taken in 1970, to her Salish Sea home.
Native Sciences & Technology, Sovereignty/Governance, Ways of Life
Summary
The Scha'nexw Elhtal'nexw Salmon People teaching guide is an instructional resource that provides middle and high school teachers with the necessary information to understand and teach the film.
