An Orca Escort

Picture from CNN, http://now.msn.com/orcas-surround-seattle-ferry-carrying-native-artifacts

 

Chief Seattle was the leader of the Suquamish Tribe in Washington State.  The current town of Seattle is named after him.  Chief Seattle is known for his wisdom, his courage, and his bravery.  He was a visionary leader of his people.  At a time when white settlers were moving into Puget Sound, he worked to establish trade with the new settlers. 

The relics of the Suquamish Indian tribe had been in Seattle for decades, on display where they could be seen, but not on their tribal lands.

In 2012, the Suquamish Tribe completed a new, state of the art, environmentally controlled museum to house their artifacts.

Earlier this week, the artifacts were moved from their old home in Seattle back to their ancestral home in Suquamish.

Along the way, the ferry carrying the relics across the sound was escorted by dozens of Orcas.  The reports I'm finding say 36 Orcas. 

How cool is that?



The links to the articles about this Orca Escort can be found here:

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/2655b0e10aed4dd090378b90eda0bb1c/WA--Puget-Sound-Orcas

http://now.msn.com/orcas-surround-seattle-ferry-carrying-native-artifacts


More about the Suquamish Indian Tribe and Chief Seattle can be found here:
http://www.suquamish.nsn.us/HistoryCulture.aspx

http://content.lib.washington.edu/aipnw/buerge2.html