Orca Network and the Lummi Nation will be holding a Tokitae Totem Pole Event in Coupeville Town Park from 5–7 p.m. Friday June 14.

The program will include songs, blessings and stories from House of Tears Carvers and creators of the Tokitae Totem pole, Jewell and Doug James, music by the Blackhawk Singers, Swil Kanim, Peter Ali and Dana Lyons, a reading from author Sandra Pollard and stories about Tokitae and the decades long fight to bring her back home from Howard Garrett and Susan Berta of Orca Network.

“This event is being held to help bring healing to Penn Cove and the people of Coupeville, as well as for Tokitae and her family – to heal the wounds of the sad history of orca captures in Penn Cove during 1970-71,” a press release from the Orca Network states. “Those who witnessed the captures are invited to attend and share stories, and join in our call to bring Tokitae home to her family and home in the Salish Sea.”

More information can be found at www.OrcaNetwork.org or the event’s Facebook page.

The Tokitae Totem pole began the journey in May 2018, leaving Bellingham for stops along the west coast and southern cities across the country, to culminate in three days of events in Miami. The remainder of the year the Tokitae Totem pole was part of an exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History, until late May, when it began the journey home with three days of events in Miami.

The Totem pole is now en route to the west coast, with events in California, Oregon, and Washington from June 7 – 15. The full schedule of events can be found at the event page.

All Tokitae Totem Pole Journey events are part of Orca Action Month in Washington and Oregon. Information about Orca Month and a full list of Orca related events during June can be found at www.OrcaMonth.com