Marina Lacasse / Canadian Press Killer whales surface through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, Northern Quebec, on Tuesday.
Associated Press
MONTREAL — A community in Quebec’s Far North is calling for outside help to free about a dozen killer whales trapped under a vast stretch of sea ice.
Locals in Inukjuak said the mammals have gathered around a single hole in the ice — slightly bigger than a pickup truck — in a desperate bid to get oxygen.
Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help them find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation.
“Fisheries and Oceans Canada is assessing the situation and are exploring every possible option, but will only be in a position to determine what – if anything – can be done once our specialists arrive on site,” spokesman Frank Stanek said in a statement.
A hunter first spotted the pod of about a dozen trapped whales Tuesday at the hole, which is on the eastern shore of the Hudson Bay. Inukjuak is about 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) north of Montreal.
Dozens of villagers made the one-hour snowmobile ride Tuesday to see the unusual spectacle. They snapped photos and shot video footage of the killer whales surfacing in the opening — and even thrusting themselves skyward while gasping for air.
One woman who made the journey to the gap in the ice said even a curious polar bear approached the hole amid the commotion. Siasie Kasudluak said the bear was shot by a local hunter for its meat.
The trapped orcas appeared to be in distress, but locals were ill-equipped to help out.
Kasudluak said the hole appeared to be shrinking in the freezing temperatures. Inukpuk believes the sudden drop in temperature recently caught the orcas off guard, leaving them boxed in under the ice.
Become a master beekeeper: The next session begins Feb. 25. WSU Snohomish County Extension and Beez Neez Apiary Supply sponsor the introduction to beekeeping as well as a comprehensive refresher course for experienced apiculturists. The Monday classes, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the extension auditorium at McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett., is $75. Register online at www.brownpapertickets.com/. You can also download the form at snohomish.wsu.edu/ and mail with a check. For registration information, contact Karie Christensen at 425-357-6039 or e-mail christensen4@wsu.edu.
Snohomish Conservation District plant sale: Annual sale of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, plants and ground covers is March 2 at Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. Order your plants by Feb. 18 and pick them up on March 2. To order: www.snohomishcd.org/plant-sale or call 425-335-5634, ext. 102. $25 minimum.
Growing Groceries training: The WSU Extension classes teach mentors how to grow productive food gardens in an an environmentally friendly way. The trained volunteers then share their knowledge. The application deadline is Jan. 18. Classes start Feb. 9 and continue for four Saturdays at the Snohomish County Extension building at 600 128th St., McCollum Park, Everett. Tuition is $135 for those who volunteer 35 hours as mentors after certification, or $185 for nonvolunteers. Contact: Karie Christensen, 425-357-6039, or Christensen4@wsu.edu for more information.
Northwest Flower & Garden Show: Online tickets for the Feb. 20 to 24 show at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle are for sale at www.gardenshow.com. Prices are $16 for adults (regularly $20 the week of the show or at the door). Group rates and multiple-day passes available. The theme is “The Silver Screen Takes Root … Gardens Go Hollywood.” tickets. Go to www.gardenshow.com for a complete listing of nurseries selling advance tickets.
Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens 2012 lectures: Noon to 1 p.m. select Saturdays, at the arboretum, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett, either in the indoor classroom or, when appropriate, outside on the arboretum grounds. All the classes are free. Seating is limited and some classes require registration. Call 425-257-8597 for reservations. See www.evergreenarboretum.com for more about the arboretum.
Jan. 19: Rose pruning with Sandy Schumacher, board member and master gardener. Registration necessary.
NURSERY CLASSES
Local nurseries feature classes, speakers and events. See websites or call for details.
Christianson’s Nursery and Greenhouse: 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon; 360-466-3821; www.christiansonsnursery.com.
The Plant Farm at Smokey Point: 15022 Twin Lakes Ave., Marysville; 360-652-3351; www.theplantfarm.com.
PLANT CLINICS
Got a gardening question? You can call the master gardener hotline from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 425-357-6010 or visit the Home & Garden section at snohomish.wsu.edu.
The Northwest Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Special Weather Statement for colder temperatures and a chance of lowland snow from tonight through the weekend
The Puget Sound Convergence Zone (PSCZ) is forming and we may see 0 to 3 inches of lowland snow (mainly above 400 foot level) accumulation late tonight through tomorrow. NWS indicates this could impact from North Seattle along the I-5 corridor to Bellingham.
Areas at higher elevations and the further north/east in the region may see larger amounts of snowfall. Also please note that accurate forecasting for snow relating to the PSCZ is very difficult; be prepared for some areas to receive amounts greater than 3 inches.
Drier conditions will move in behind these systems, but cold temps may keep any snow accumulations around as daytime highs will only make the mid-30s through Monday.
There also is a possibility of another round of snow on Saturday, but it really depends on which track this system takes.
Please be prepared for widely varied winter driving conditions throughout the County and allow extra time in your travels.
Courtesy Mohawk Council of Kahnawa:ke. Eleven women elected Mohawk chiefs visited Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence in her hunger strike tipi in Ottawa on December 18 and delivered a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper supporting Idle No More and demanding that he meet with Spence and address the issue of an unprecedented series of laws that many feel are oppressive and insulting to First Nations.
A delegation of women chiefs from three Mohawk Nation communities visited Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence during the second week of her hungry strike last month to offer her their support and respect and in doing so forged a new alliance among themselves.
Kahnawà:ke Chiefs Rhonda Kirby, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, Christine Zachary-Deom and Gina Deer, Kanesatake Chiefs Sonya Gagnier, Shannon Nicholas, Sheila Bonspiel, Akwesasne Chiefs Karen Loran, Louise Thompson, April Adams-Phillips and one other unnamed woman chief from Akwesasne traveled on December 18 to meet with Chief Spence in her tipi on Victoria Island in Ottawa where she had promised to fast on water and medicine tea until Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with her and other First Nation leaders to talk about the federal government living up to its promises and responsibilities toward Indigenous Peoples. That meeting is now scheduled for January 11.
Spence’s hunger strike and the Idle No More movement were sparked by the passage in the Canadian legislature of the Bill C-45 with inadequate consultation with the nations. The bill amends the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act and the Canadian Labour Code in ways that erode Indian sovereignty and control over their lands and resources. First Nations reacted immediately and strongly to the passage with protests and demonstrations across the country that have now spread in Idle No More solidarity rallies in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand and even Japan.
Sky-Deer said the visit to Spence created an unprecedented bond of solidarity among the women Mohawk chiefs. “I think one of the most positive aspects of it was that it brought together the women leadership from our three Kanienkahaka (Mohawk people, the People of the Flint) communities, which otherwise may not have happened like that. It was a first meeting for all of us,” said Sky-Deer. Was the meeting the beginning of something new and great? “I hope so!” she said. “We’ve talked about continuing this in the New Year and maybe meeting again, because we face a lot of the same issues in our respective communities and it only helps us to strengthen and support each other in that we’re all Kanienkahaka women and have the best interest of our community and taking care of business. It was definitely a positive thing.”
Before traveling to Victoria Island, the women chiefs coordinated the gifts they would bring to Spence – tobacco, medicine bundles, eagle feathers and a big confederacy blanket that the Kahnawà:ke council donated, along with a confederacy flat that was hoisted on the palisades around the area where her tipi was located, Zachary-Deom said. “There was a big fire going near the tipi. She’s on very low lying ground, very moist and foggy and wet. I don’t know how healthy it is for her there. We were scheduled to see her at 2 p.m. but then we were told she had so many visitors and had just gone to bed,” Zachary-Deom said. So the women delivered letters from the Mohawk Council to Harper and Governor General David Johnson, the representative of the British Crown in Canada.
“The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke has grown increasingly concerned with the paternalistic legislative approach that Canada has taken regarding First Nations affairs, which is in conflict with not only our inherent self-determination, but is also a violation of the agreements between our People and the Crown,” the council wrote. “The recent passage of the Omnibus Budget Bill C-45 is an offensive action on Canada’s part that is causing an obvious and serious deterioration in First Nations/Canada relations. The unwillingness to take corrective measures and continue to consider legislation impacting First Nations only promotes further dissension. At this time, we feel obligated to caution Canada that continuation of this unilateral and paternalistic approach will only result in further deterioration and dissent amongst First Nations Peoples.”
After delivering the letters, the women chiefs returned to Victoria Island and after a long wait finally got to meet with Chief Spence. “We gave her our message of support and comforted her with the blanket we brought that we wrapped around her. We told her that whatever she needed she would just have to tell us and the Mohawks would support her,” Zachary-Deom said.
Each woman had the opportunity to speak individually to Spence, Sky-Deer said. “We each brought our own messages and words of support in how she inspired us, being a woman leader herself, and, you know, just the feeling in that tipi, to have 12 women there together and sharing the weight of what we carry for our communities and wanting to see the best things for our people and our future generations – it was a very positive, very uplifting, powerful experience,” Sky-Deer said.
The women said they hoped the meeting of the First Nations chiefs with the Harper government would result in some changes in the way the federal government conducts itself. “We hope to have a more direct relationship that’s not just them making decisions and passing legislation without consultation that directly affects people – our people and Canadians – across the country,” Sky-Deer said. “It’s very unilateral and it doesn’t take into account and consideration the long term effects that will happen. I’m hoping for the best. I’m hoping for maybe some repeal if the Harper government can understand what we’re looking at and what we want to protect.”
Buffalo Star People is a Native nonprofit, based in South Dakota, dedicated to helping our relatives heal from losses, traumas, and addictions. Buffalo Star People has been helping Native people in tribal communities transform their lives in powerful ways for over 7 years. They are here in our community to facilitate a series of Healing Circles for about 11 weeks, ending in a graduation ceremony. Participants and mentors will be guided in a new approach to healing. Please consider joining us on this healing journey.
Want to learn how? Our Healing Circles are free, and open to adults ages 18 and up. The only requirement is that you complete an orientation with a facilitator. Barbara Bettelyoun, Rosebud Sioux, is a Doctor of Psychology and has worked with Native communities on issues of trauma and healing for over 15 years. She co-facilitates with her husband, Francis. Francis Bettelyoun, Oglala Lakota and enrolled in the Ihanktonwan Sioux Tribe, is Vice President of Buffalo Star People Nonprofit, and has been co-facilitating Healing Circles for the past 7 years.
Orientation appointments immediately available for exploring the Healing Circle starting on 1/16.
Call to schedule a time that works for you:
Leila or Razi can be reached at 716-4100
Group co-facilitator Barbara Bettelyoun can be reached direct at 605-201-7576
One Moroccan artist teaches a village of women to read. An embroiderer from India takes out her first loan. A Hutu woman from war-torn Rwanda works with a Tutsi to make “peace” baskets. And a soup kitchen for aids orphans delivers meals because of a folk art cooperative’s success in Swaziland.
From Africa to Asia to the Americas, female artisans are creating grassroots cooperatives to reach new markets, raise living standards, and transform lives.
Empowering Women provides an intimate view of the work of ten such enterprises in ten countries. This exhibition illustrates how the power of such grassroots collaborations transform women’s lives, bringing together first-person quotes, stellar photographs, and stunning examples of the cooperatives’ handmade traditional arts.
Also on exhibit at the Burke Museum is Pacific Voices
The Pacific Northwest is home to a rich tapestry of cultures. In Pacific Voices, you’ll learn about seventeen different Pacific Rim cultures and how they adapt and remain vibrant in a changing modern world. Here you can learn about the revival of a dying language, hear the teachings of tribal elders, view beautiful Asian art, and learn about the ceremonies vital to cultural identity. The exhibit show-cases a wide variety of interesting artifacts from Washington State and around the Pacific Rim.
An excellent sampling of Northwest Coast Native art is currently on view in the Pacific Voices exhibit.
Hours
Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm.
On the first Thursday of each month, the museum stays open until 8 pm—and admission is free.
Closed: Christmas Day (Dec. 25), New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), July 4th, Thanksgiving Day. Early closing: Museum closes at 3 pm on December 24 and December 31. Weather closure: During inclement weather, call the museum after 10 am (206-543-7907) to confirm it is open.
Admission
General Admission
$10 general, $8 senior, $7.50 students (w/ID), and youth (5 & up)
FREE to Burke Members, children 4 and under, and UW staff/faculty/students
Free Admission—First Thursdays
Admission is free to the public on the first Thursday of each month.
Group tours may not be scheduled on these days.
Location and Directions
The Burke Museum is on the University of Washington campus at the corner of 17th Avenue NE and NE 45th Street.
From I-5, exit east onto NE 45th Street. Travel east on NE 45th Street to 17th Avenue NE. Turn right onto 17th. The museum will be immediately on your right.
From Highway 520, exit north onto Montlake Boulevard NE. Turn left onto NE Pacific Street. Turn right and head north on 15th Avenue NE. Turn right and head east on NE 45th St. Take your next right on 17th Avenue NE. The museum will be immediately on your right.
EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League today announced that the club has parted ways with Head Coach Mark Ferner and Assistant Coach Chris Hartsburg, who have been relieved of their duties effective immediately. General Manager Garry Davidson will take over as Head Coach on an interim basis, with Mitch Love continuing in his role as Assistant Coach.
“After taking a great deal of time over the last 11 months assessing and analyzing the direction of our organization, I’ve come to the decision that a change needed to be made,” said Davidson. “It’s important for us to ensure that everyone in our organization operates under the same philosophy and shares the same vision of building a program that is among the WHL’s elite.”
“Mark Ferner and Chris Hartsburg deserve a great deal of respect and appreciation for all the hard work they have put in during their time with the Silvertips, and we would like to thank them both for their efforts. Mark and Chris are good people and we wish them all the best going forward.”
The Silvertips will begin the search for the fifth head coach in franchise history in the offseason, with Davidson serving as interim coach through the remainder of the current season. Love will remain in his current role as the lone assistant coach. The franchise does not plan to add a second assistant coach at this time.
“In the short term our goals have not changed,” Davidson added. “We will continue developing our young team and still plan to contend for a playoff spot. When the offseason arrives, we’ll conduct an extensive search for the right candidate to become the next Head Coach of the Everett Silvertips.”
The Silvertips open a five-game homestand Friday night at Comcast Arena. The ‘Tips host the Victoria Royals Friday at 7:35 pm before facing the Winterhawks again Saturday at 7:05 pm in downtown Everett. The ‘Tips will also have visits from Tri-City, Seattle and Lethbridge during the home stretch over the next two weeks.
Season tickets, mini-game packages and single-game tickets for the Silvertips’ 10th Anniversary season at Comcast Arena are on sale now. For more information visit www.everettsilvertips.com or call 425-252-5100. To keep up with all the latest ‘Tips news, “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter .
