Whale Tails & Other Stories.Pdf

B Greg Trowse photo Thank you to the people and businesses who contributed to this guide: Photos: Brier Island Whale & Seabird Cruises Mariner Cruises June Farnsworth Robert J. Galbraith Todd Sollows Amanda Stark/Freeport Whale & Seabird Tours Amy Tudor Mi’kmaw Ecological Knowledge: Robert McEwan Sandy-Lynn Fisher Lenley Melvin Alanna Syliboy Fred Phillips Interviewees: Artwork: Frank Gillis June Farnsworth Penny Graham Gerald Gloade Shelley Lonergan Patricia Sollows Laurie and Tony Thurber cover image by June Farnsworth Amy Tudor C Greg Trowse photo Contents 1.Prologue 57. Orca 4. Mi'kmaw Ecological Knowledge 61. Sperm whale 7. Species Names in Mi'kmaw 64. Seals 10. General Species Locations 65. Harbour seal 12. Common Cetacean Behaviours 68. Grey seal 19. The Baleen Whales 71. Leatherback turtle 21. Minke whale 74. Sharks 25. Humpback whale 77. Porbeagle shark 30. Sei whale 80. Shortfin mako shark 33. North Atlantic right whale 83. Blue shark 37. Fin whale 86. Thresher shark 40. Blue whale 89. Great white shark 43. Toothed Whales & Dolphins 92. Basking shark 45. Harbour porpoise 95. Ocean sunfish 48. Atlantic white-sided dolphin 98. Other Fish of the Bay of Fundy 51. Beluga whale 102. Artist Profiles 54. Long-finned pilot whale 106. References 108. Reporting Sightings and Animals in Distress Greg Trowse photo E Prologue incredible Bay of Fundy and her thick they sounded like rainstorms creatures. Th is is meant to be a pounding the ocean and looked With this guide we are looking to living, growing document that will like a writhing silver mat moving bring together traditional knowl- evolve alongside our understand- atop the water as they attempted edge, scientifi c understanding, and ing and as contributions are made. to evade the predators diving the wealth of experience of lo- We are greatly appreciative to all through their plentiful masses. cal water users. When known we those who have helped us bring Laurie told us about looking over have listed the Mi’kmaw names this document to life thus far, your the edge of the boat into the ocean for animals fi rst, as those were the stories, wisdom, and love of the and seeing it red with krill, then names fi rst given by humans in ocean is inspiring and it was truly darted with silver as the smaller these lands. We are deeply grateful a gift to get a chance to speak with schooling fi sh came in, then the to the Mi’kmaw knowledge keep- you. It was both awe inspiring and larger mackerel, and the dolphins ers who have begun the sharing deeply saddening to listen to local and whales, the dance of the eco- of their deep wisdom in this fi rst water people, men and women system unfolding infront of her draft and look forward to the con- who have spent eyes, intense and tinued growth of this connection. decades in close vivacious, raw relation to the and powerful. Th e facts and statistics of science Bay of Fundy. Th e water rarely provide us with the basic informa- Th ey told me turns red now. tion we need to identify species of times before, “Atlantic cod”, by Gerald Gloade we have seen, but it is the depth of of a magical Tony shared with human experience that allows us blue vastness of abundance, of us the promise of discovering lo- to come into relationship with the the sounds of herring schools so cal cod stocks begin to rebound 1 when given as little as two years seabirds. But after a time it became time to recover, then within days less of joy and more like visiting a seeing those same fish ravaged cemetery, empty and hollowed, a by draggers coming through and ghost of what once was. Life still decimating the ocean in it’s path. clinging but no longer thriving. He, The heaviness of knowing that like so many who have been blessed the Bay of Fundy fish biomass for to live with the ocean, to build a life many species, is specific to the Bay, from her gifts, wants his grandchil- and the uncertaintly of what may dren to have a healthy ocean to live happen if the population is com- alongside too, they see that slipping pletely eradicated. The frustration away as more and more massive of not being listened to by govern- commercial vessels move in and ment and policy makers while artwork by June Farnsworth take with reckless abandon and no watching life in the Bay of Fundy thoughts of respectful stewardship. struggle for survival where once it in enough fish to fill his boat to was brimming with abundance. the gunwales. These days, catching Penny and Shelley have spent a few small fish in Grand Passage decades visiting and studying the Frank, a man who has fished these is great cause for celebration for whales of the Bay of Fundy, and I waters for over 60 years, first took our young son. Frank used to take have been lucky enough to expe- to the ocean in a wooden dory as a his lunch and sit along the coast, rience first hand their infectious 9 year old boy. He told me how he overlooking the Bay of Fundy, just joy and humility each and every could row out into the passage and to take in her wonders and abun- time they see one of those majes- with another boy and a net, haul dance. To watch the whales and tic creatures. I have seen hearts 2 change in an instant on those whale formed bonds over these years in tour boats as people encounter the Bay together. In a time when Please contact a whale for the very first time. humans are becoming aware of courtney.trowse@ These women have dedicated their their negative impacts on the Earth lives to making the world a bet- and her fellow creatures, it is espe- sustainableoceans.ca ter place for humans and whales cially powerful to witness humans to add to the story. by bringing them together. Each forming these relationships. is a mentor, bringing young scientists and naturalists into their fold of respectful wonder and ap- preciation, and people, such as Amy Tudor, have found a place to share their passion for educa- tion and wildlife, regalling visitors with exuberant sharing of facts and her own excitement. It is truly an honour to be aboard their vessel when a momma whale, known by crew, leaves her young calf to play near the boat as she dives deep in search of food. These whales and these people, they see each other, they know each other, they have Seaweed, by Pat Sollows 3 Mi’kmaw Ecological Knowledge 4 Mi’kmaw Ecological Knowledge With a two-eyed seeing approach, we learn to observe and interact with the world around us through a Western scienti c lens and an Indigenous knowledge lens. The Indigenous knowledge lens is a way of knowing, and always being aware of the interconnectedness of all things. Th e Bay of Fundy is a unique ecosystem and full of food for all living creatures. It sustains the food chain from the smallest living organism to the most massive whale. Th is bay is not only an excellent resource for all creatures, but it is also a place where Mi’kmaq came from; the bay is a sacred place for the Mi’kmaw people as it holds everything they need to sustain life. Th e Mi’kmaq of the Outer Bay of Fundy region historically moved with the seasons. Summers would be spent at bays and inlets fi shing and hunting marine mammals, moving inland to hunt through the winter. Ceremonies were performed to give thanks to species for the sacrifi ce of their lives to feed the Mi’kmaw. Lobsters, by Gerald Gloade 5 All animals and fi sh had multiple have dropped because of dams - it running. When seawater temperature uses. Small whales and porpoise is said that the rivers used to be so increases, there is an increase in were hunted by boat. Th eir meat was thick with salmon that you couldn’t the activity of various species. With used for food, and their blubber was get wet when you walked across the warmer water, more baitfi sh move into rendered into oil. Seal were hunted for rivers. Now wild Atlantic salmon in the area, which draws predators, such food, and their fur was used for gloves the region are considered endangered as lobsters and sharks. More halibut and moccasins. American eel, striped almost to the point of extinction. are caught in the spring. bass, and Atlantic salmon were eaten Belugas once were resident in the Bay at feasts, ceremonies, and funerals. of Fundy, but now are rare visitors. Lobsters would be buried in the mud, Great white sharks were once and frost would keep the meat cold so infrequent in the bay and have if hunting was poor during the winter, now become more common. there would still be food. Bones would be used for tools, such as needles, As well as observations on long- spears, buttons, ornaments (such as term diff erences, the Mi’kmaq buttons), and instruments (such as have experience and knowledge rattles). of seasonal changes that show the interconnectedness of things. For Over many years, the Mi’kmaq have instance, when the peepers sing in the observed that some species have spring, that is a sign of bass entering decreased due to overfi shing and the rivers. When pussy willows start climate change. Th e size and quality to come out it is a sign that trout are of some species have also gone down.

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