July 5 - Why do orcas share their food with humans?

Good morning !

Welcome to another sunny summer weekend. Today, we take a look at three new studies: two that offer a guide to funding repatriation of Indigenous artifacts in BC and one that explores why orcas have been offering food to humans for decades.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 21 / 11

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 24 / 12

Monday: 🌤️ 20 / 14

NEWS

New reports offer roadmap to repatriation of Indigenous artifacts in BC and beyond

The two studies—developed in tandem by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and K’yuu Enterprise Corporation—call for substantial funding from the provincial and federal governments, a repatriation accreditation for museums, and a centralized database for communities to navigate the process and understand the costs. 

The studies act as a framework for future planning and grant applications for First Nations looking to retrieve misappropriated items and ancestral remains.

The reports found that 100K BC First Nations items are in 229 institutions—museums and universities—around the globe, including 2,500 human remains. The survey only had a 50% response rate from BC First Nations, meaning the numbers are likely much higher.

In the last two years, RBCM has repatriated items to three BC First Nations. Last year, a chief’s seat built by master carver Captain Richard Carpenter was returned to the Heiltsuk Nation in a dedicated ceremony after being held at RBCM for 113 years. In 2023, a Nuxalk Nation totem pole was removed by crane from the museum before it was returned to Bella Coola. Later that year, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation delivered a declaration of repatriation to RBCM. All of these items were taken by force or coercion, the nations said. 

The first report to estimate the overall cost of repatriation

“Organizing community, conducting research, and preparing for repatriation is often an intense, long-term, and costly process, and that is just the beginning,” one report states. 

The studies highlight that 60% of both BC First Nations and colonial institutions—museums and universities—that responded to the survey reported having spent well over $1M on repatriation. Of these two groups, 50% said they would need $1M or more over the next five years to continue repatriation work.  

It’s estimated that the average community-level repatriation costs would range from $3.2M to $4M per community over five years. Funding repatriation for all 204 BC First Nations would cost nearly $663M over five years. 

There are currently no funding programs in BC or Canada dedicated exclusively to repatriation. Previous funding programs were limited to one-year terms, making them insufficient to support the long-term needs of BC First Nations.

Read more on the cost breakdown here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Out-of-control wildfire burning outside Port Renfrew, 7 ha in size. [BC Wildfire]

Bay Street closed westbound from Government to Douglas today. 7am-5pm. [City of Victoria]

UV index: Very high (8) today.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Orcas sharing prey with humans may be their way of learning about us

A study published last week in the Journal of Comparative Psychology posits that the whales share prey with humans as a way of understanding us. 

The study focused on 34 interactions over the last 20 years in which an orca offered prey or other items to people on boats, in the water, and on shore in four different oceans. Orcas of all sexes and ages were witnessed displaying this behaviour.

A total of 18 species were given to people by the whales, including six fish, five mammals, three invertebrates, two birds, one reptile, and one piece of seaweed. Cases were only included if the whales approached humans, not the other way around.

“In almost every case, the whales awaited a human response [after sharing prey] before subsequently reacting,” the study states.

The researchers note that there are likely more cases of these interactions, but they only included “the clearest examples” of this behaviour in the study.

“The accounts of killer whales offering prey and other items to humans presented here suggest that these are not isolated events but rather represent a unique form of behaviour that has been selected for in this species,” the study reads.

Interactions near Island sparked study

The study’s authors were inspired to research this sharing behaviour further after multiple interactions with orcas near Vancouver Island that offered their food.

It’s possible that the food offerings were meant to instigate play with people, but the researchers say they don’t believe it was a driving factor in all cases. Instead, it’s more likely that these events were a form of exploration for the whales.

Researchers say this behaviour will need to be studied further—and while we study these whales, they may be studying us.

Read more about these interactions—and the Indigenous lore from the Island that may prove centuries of good relationships with orcas.

SPONSORED BY PHS COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY

Run for your community

The race is ON! Do you run? Do you want to make a positive impact to help people struggling with homelessness, mental health or addictions? 

If you answered “Yes,” participate virtually in the Under Armour Eastside 10k between September 1-30 and help PHS Community Services Society fundraise to reach their $25,000 goal.

Join Team PHS and ask your family and friends to donate to your run. Use 25PHS for 10% off your registration. You’ll receive a race T-shirt, race bib with a counter, and a medal.

Funds you raise will be directed to PHS’s frontline services in Victoria and Vancouver that provide supportive housing, healthcare and harm reduction services to thousands of extremely marginalized people every day. 

Join or donate to Team PHS today!

⭐️ Capital Picks

🚘 Northwest Deuce Days, July 17-20.

🐦 A dust bath for a house sparrow in Nanaimo. [Instagram video]

🏡 Transform any backyard with a custom-built patio designed for comfort and style. Contact Shield Landscaping today to schedule your consultation and elevate your outdoor space.*

To read the full newsletter tomorrow, become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

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🗞️ In Other News

Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins resigns from police board
Saying she has been in a conflict of interest that’s been bothering her for almost 20 years, Desjardins stepped down yesterday. She says what’s in Esquimalt’s best interests isn’t always in the best interests of VicPD, which patrols Esquimalt and Victoria. For years, Esquimalt has argued it doesn’t get the bang for its buck from VicPD. Look for an Esquimalt councillor to replace the mayor on the police board. [CTV]

Victoria climate activist announces her candidacy for BC Green party leader
One day after Comox councillor Jonathan Kerr announced he wants to lead the party, Emily Lowan, 24, has launched a campaign with the slogan “Fight the oligarchs, fund our future.” Currently working at Climate Action Network Canada, Lowan has championed student causes at UVic and is an advocate for climate justice. The Greens expect to soon announce more candidates vying to replace Sonia Furstenau, who stepped aside after losing her bid for the Victoria-Beacon Hill seat in last fall’s BC election. [Black Press]

Nephew to restore uncle’s totem poles at Nootka Court
Jason Henry Hunt will rehabilitate four totems in downtown Victoria carved in the 1960s and 1970s by his uncle, Tony Hunt Sr. The younger Hunt is also the great-grandson of renowned master carver Mungo Martin, whose work he’s restored in the past (including the carvings in Thunderbird Park next to RBCM). The poles, between 6 and 12 metres in height, are all red cedar. They have varying signs of wear, with the two outdoor totems showing the most damage. [Times Colonist]

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION

Leave a legacy of community impact today

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🗓️ Things to do

☀️ Oak Bay summer concerts: See this family-friendly show, with music and dance, at Willows Park today. 2pm. [Info]

🎶 Phillips Backyard Festival: Tilt: Catch Unknown Mortal Orchestra, G-Eazy, and more at the first installment of the summer festival series. All weekend. [Info] 

🎵 Victoria Folk Festival: See Frazey Ford, Joel Plasket, Kacy & Clayton, and more popular folk acts at the inaugural Folk Fest in Royal Athletic Park today. 12pm. [Info]

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Parade: Cap off Victoria Pride Week with this fun, family-friendly parade through downtown tomorrow. 11am. [Info]

🌈 Pride Festival in the Park: After the Pride Parade, enjoy an afternoon of drag, dance music, food, and a kids’ area at MacDonald Park in James Bay tomorrow. Grounds open at 11am. [Info]

🍓 Strawberry Festival: Join the Saanich community for live music, a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, and fresh strawberries with ice cream at Beaver Lake tomorrow. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🏍️ Wheelies 11th Anniversary Block Party: Check out vintage bikes and cars, hear live music, and enjoy some tasty BBQ at Wheelies Motorcycles tomorrow. 10am-4pm. [Info]

🎨 Moss Street Paint-In: The 36th annual paint-in will feature 170+ artists, local food, and a family-friendly beer garden on Moss from Fort to George. July 19. 11am-4pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Island Health now posting wait times for ERs. Langford adopts OCP for first time in 17 years. Man arrested for driving Tesla on moving BC Ferry. [July 4]

BC gov't Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform. Written submissions accepted until July 25.

BC Junior Girls Golf Championship at Gorge Vale GC.

Turquoise waves: Phytoplankton blooms cause the waters of Barkley Sound to look like a Caribbean paradise. [Facebook photos]

Criticism of company managing Island’s backcountry for fencing practice. [CBC video]