Description
"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life." -Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation
Spirits of the Coast brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists, and storytellers, united by their enchantment with the orca.
Long feared in settler cultures as "killer whales," and respected and honored by Indigenous cultures as friends, family, or benefactors, orcas are complex social beings with culture and language of their own. With contributors ranging from Briony Penn to David Suzuki, Gary Geddes and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, this collection brings together diverse voices, young and old, to explore the magic, myths, and ecology of orcas.
A richly illustrated literary and visual journey through past and possibility, Spirits of the Coast illustrates how these enigmatic animals have shaped us as much as our actions have impacted them, and provokes the reader to imagine the shape of our shared future.
About the Author
Professor Jack Lohman is chief executive officer of the Royal British Columbia Museum and Archives in Victoria and professor in museum design at the Bergen National Academy of the Arts, Norway. Before coming to Canada, he was chairman of the National Museum in Warsaw, director of the Museum of London and chief executive officer of Iziko Museums of Cape Town. Mark Leiren-Young is a journalist, filmmaker and author of numerous books, including Never Shoot a Stampede Queen, for which he won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, and The Green Chain, which is based on his award-winning film of the same name. His article for the Walrus about Moby Doll, the first orca publicly exhibited in captivity, was a finalist for the National Magazine Award, and he won the Jack Webster award for his CBC Idea's radio documentary Moby Doll: The Whale that Changed the World. Leiren-Young is currently finishing a feature length film documentary on Moby Doll.
Reviews
"The authors take you on a magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life. Numerous perspectives that intertwine science, traditional knowledge and personal experiences reveal how strongly we're interconnected with these majestic, intelligent neighbours that live in the Salish Sea. The emerging picture shows how orcas are an integral part of human existence and fuels my personal and professional passion to do everything possible to help them thrive. These stories seamlessly make the reader a part of the orcas' history and fate." Jay Ritchlin, Director General, BC and Western Canada, David Suzuki Foundation
"In Spirits of the Coast ...orca experts, artists, storytellers, and Indigenous wisdom keepers issue an invitation to understand, celebrate, and come together to protect these marvelous marine mammals." Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews
"This book is the perfect blend of science, history, art, folklore and culture. Orcas are a huge part of life on the west coast of Canada and Vancouver Island. The image of the Orca is ever-present. This book is a wonderful trip into the world of these magnificent creatures and what they have meant to us over time." Charlotte Kinzie, Kinzie Things
"The book, which is both a history lesson and a proposal for the future, is packed with thoughtful insights, historical perspectives and traditional First Nations stories. It also visually shines, with a wide range of beautiful artwork and photography. It's that inclusion of visual storytelling that makes this book so accessible and a great addition to any coffee table or bookshelf." Vancouver Sun
"Its luminous, large-format pages offer everything from Haida storytelling to marine biology, all to show our too-often-ignored kinship with this astonishing animal." Brian Lynch, Georgia Straight
"This book is not just recalling the history of relationship between humans and orcas but is laying the groundwork for deciding, each of us, what that relationship could look like in the future." Amy Reiswig, Focus on Victoria
"Anyone looking for an introduction to the history, science and cultural significance of the orca could do no better than to start here." Daniel Francis, Ormsby Review
"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life." -- Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation
Book Information
ISBN 9780772677686
Author Severn Cullis-Suzuki
Format Hardback
Page Count 216
Imprint Royal British Columbia Museum
Publisher Royal British Columbia Museum
Weight(grams) 975g
Dimensions(mm) 254mm * 203mm * 20mm
Spirits of the Coast brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists, and storytellers, united by their enchantment with the orca.
Long feared in settler cultures as "killer whales," and respected and honored by Indigenous cultures as friends, family, or benefactors, orcas are complex social beings with culture and language of their own. With contributors ranging from Briony Penn to David Suzuki, Gary Geddes and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, this collection brings together diverse voices, young and old, to explore the magic, myths, and ecology of orcas.
A richly illustrated literary and visual journey through past and possibility, Spirits of the Coast illustrates how these enigmatic animals have shaped us as much as our actions have impacted them, and provokes the reader to imagine the shape of our shared future.
About the Author
Professor Jack Lohman is chief executive officer of the Royal British Columbia Museum and Archives in Victoria and professor in museum design at the Bergen National Academy of the Arts, Norway. Before coming to Canada, he was chairman of the National Museum in Warsaw, director of the Museum of London and chief executive officer of Iziko Museums of Cape Town. Mark Leiren-Young is a journalist, filmmaker and author of numerous books, including Never Shoot a Stampede Queen, for which he won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, and The Green Chain, which is based on his award-winning film of the same name. His article for the Walrus about Moby Doll, the first orca publicly exhibited in captivity, was a finalist for the National Magazine Award, and he won the Jack Webster award for his CBC Idea's radio documentary Moby Doll: The Whale that Changed the World. Leiren-Young is currently finishing a feature length film documentary on Moby Doll.
Reviews
"The authors take you on a magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life. Numerous perspectives that intertwine science, traditional knowledge and personal experiences reveal how strongly we're interconnected with these majestic, intelligent neighbours that live in the Salish Sea. The emerging picture shows how orcas are an integral part of human existence and fuels my personal and professional passion to do everything possible to help them thrive. These stories seamlessly make the reader a part of the orcas' history and fate." Jay Ritchlin, Director General, BC and Western Canada, David Suzuki Foundation
"In Spirits of the Coast ...orca experts, artists, storytellers, and Indigenous wisdom keepers issue an invitation to understand, celebrate, and come together to protect these marvelous marine mammals." Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews
"This book is the perfect blend of science, history, art, folklore and culture. Orcas are a huge part of life on the west coast of Canada and Vancouver Island. The image of the Orca is ever-present. This book is a wonderful trip into the world of these magnificent creatures and what they have meant to us over time." Charlotte Kinzie, Kinzie Things
"The book, which is both a history lesson and a proposal for the future, is packed with thoughtful insights, historical perspectives and traditional First Nations stories. It also visually shines, with a wide range of beautiful artwork and photography. It's that inclusion of visual storytelling that makes this book so accessible and a great addition to any coffee table or bookshelf." Vancouver Sun
"Its luminous, large-format pages offer everything from Haida storytelling to marine biology, all to show our too-often-ignored kinship with this astonishing animal." Brian Lynch, Georgia Straight
"This book is not just recalling the history of relationship between humans and orcas but is laying the groundwork for deciding, each of us, what that relationship could look like in the future." Amy Reiswig, Focus on Victoria
"Anyone looking for an introduction to the history, science and cultural significance of the orca could do no better than to start here." Daniel Francis, Ormsby Review
"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life." -- Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation
Book Information
ISBN 9780772677686
Author Severn Cullis-Suzuki
Format Hardback
Page Count 216
Imprint Royal British Columbia Museum
Publisher Royal British Columbia Museum
Weight(grams) 975g
Dimensions(mm) 254mm * 203mm * 20mm
