By Erin Durrett
Mother orca, Tahlequah, carries a dead baby, once again, for all to see. She is holding her loss in a way that makes it possible for us to mourn with her, and the deeper vision is to see our own children in that mother’s arms. Could there be a more gracious, dignified, or heart-wrenching way of reminding us that in saving her family, we can save ourselves and the rest of creation?
Who knows the songs that will multiply the salmon and clean the waters? How do we learn to sing them? The First Peoples lead the way in water, salmon, and orca habitat restoration – let’s ask them! Let’s contribute to their efforts. Let’s join Vashon’s Save Our Salmon organization (https://www.wildsalmon.org/) which has allied with the people who have lived with the orca in this place for thousands of years.
We need to support with money and actually take part in their efforts to clean the water, remove dams, and restore Tahlequah’s food to the Salish Sea so she and her family can thrive. The song of the Living Earth is being sung – it’s time to learn it and join the singing of the survival of all beings!
