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Spirits of the Coast: Orcas in science, art and history
"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.
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.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 14, 2026
This beautiful book about orcas was written by Indigenous people of British Columbia, Canada's breathtakingly beautiful province, who have always viewed orcas as relatives, as well as scientists, artists, and activists from all around the globe. Each chapter features a different author. The book's mastermind is Indigenous writer and educator Nikki Sanchez, whose goal is to raise awareness for the Southern Residents, a critically endangered, salmon-eating orca population that inhabits the waters of both the U.S. and Canada.
Other orca ecotypes were also featured in the book, and my favorite part was the stories of human-orca relationships throughout history. Did you know that orcas and humans used to form a partnership of sorts in some parts of the world to hunt large whales together? In Kamchatka, Russia, Indigenous people hunted baleen whales in cooperation with orcas. An even more famous example occurred in Eden, Australia. This group of orcas nicknamed 'Killers of Eden' helped humans herd and kill whales, and in exchange for their assistance, humans would allow the orcas to eat the tongue, which to them is a delicacy, before hauling the carcass to the shore. This was known as the 'law of the tongue.' One of these orcas was named Old Tom; his bones were preserved after his death, and his skeleton is on display at the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
Famous Southern Resident orcas captured decades ago who have since passed into legend are often mentioned in the book - Moby Doll, Shamu, Skana, Haida, and Miracle, as were Northern Residents such as Namu, Hyak, and Corky. Wild Southern Residents such as J35 Tahlequah, who made headlines when she carried her deceased female calf for 17 days, and legendary matriarch J2 Granny are also highlighted. Here's what warmed my heart - Granny, estimated to be the oldest orca in the Pacific Northwest during her lifetime, has a street named after her in Washington State and was elected honorary mayor of Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands.
The story that touched me the most is that of Hyak, a member of the Northern Resident orca population who lived at the Vancouver Aquarium. He would float motionlessly in the corner of the pool, moving only when fed. One day, a scientist who worked at the aquarium placed a loudspeaker in the bottom of a paint can, half submerged it in the pool, and connected the speaker to an amplifier, which was connected to a record player. After just a couple of sessions, Hyak was swimming around the pool, listening to music. Whenever the scientist stopped playing the music or repeated the same song, Hyak would return to his corner and remain still. Each time the scientist played a new song Hyak had not heard before, he would start rolling, swimming upside down, and slapping the water with his flukes. One day, the scientist played Beethoven. Hyak responded by lifting his head and flukes out of the water, spraying fountains of water from his mouth, waving his flukes as if conducting, slapping the water, and rolling, while his dorsal fin quivered constantly. He was dancing to Beethoven. Hyak was also fascinated by books that had pictures of orcas. Another scientist at the aquarium would put up books to the glass of Hyak's tank, and he would gaze intently at the pictures of wild orcas for long periods of time.
Captivity and its tragic consequences were big themes in the book. In 1970, the infamous Penn Cove capture occurred on Whidbey Island in Washington state, where the entire Southern Resident orca population was herded with boats, planes, and explosives. The locals tried to free the orcas but were stopped by armed guards. Five orcas drowned in the nets (an adult and four calves). Seven juvenile orcas were captured and transported to various marine parks. One of them was the famous orca Lolita, also known as Tokitae and Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut. She was sold to the Miami Seaquarium, where she spent over half a century in the world's smallest orca tank. There was finally some hope a few years ago when the Miami Seaquarium finally agreed to release Lolita to a sea sanctuary. Lolita died in 2023, before any plans could be finalized. After a necropsy was done, she was cremated, and her ashes were given to the Lummi Nation tribe, who scattered them in the Salish Sea in a private ceremony. It's heartbreaking that only in death was she able to finally come home.
Other orca ecotypes were also featured in the book, and my favorite part was the stories of human-orca relationships throughout history. Did you know that orcas and humans used to form a partnership of sorts in some parts of the world to hunt large whales together? In Kamchatka, Russia, Indigenous people hunted baleen whales in cooperation with orcas. An even more famous example occurred in Eden, Australia. This group of orcas nicknamed 'Killers of Eden' helped humans herd and kill whales, and in exchange for their assistance, humans would allow the orcas to eat the tongue, which to them is a delicacy, before hauling the carcass to the shore. This was known as the 'law of the tongue.' One of these orcas was named Old Tom; his bones were preserved after his death, and his skeleton is on display at the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
Famous Southern Resident orcas captured decades ago who have since passed into legend are often mentioned in the book - Moby Doll, Shamu, Skana, Haida, and Miracle, as were Northern Residents such as Namu, Hyak, and Corky. Wild Southern Residents such as J35 Tahlequah, who made headlines when she carried her deceased female calf for 17 days, and legendary matriarch J2 Granny are also highlighted. Here's what warmed my heart - Granny, estimated to be the oldest orca in the Pacific Northwest during her lifetime, has a street named after her in Washington State and was elected honorary mayor of Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands.
The story that touched me the most is that of Hyak, a member of the Northern Resident orca population who lived at the Vancouver Aquarium. He would float motionlessly in the corner of the pool, moving only when fed. One day, a scientist who worked at the aquarium placed a loudspeaker in the bottom of a paint can, half submerged it in the pool, and connected the speaker to an amplifier, which was connected to a record player. After just a couple of sessions, Hyak was swimming around the pool, listening to music. Whenever the scientist stopped playing the music or repeated the same song, Hyak would return to his corner and remain still. Each time the scientist played a new song Hyak had not heard before, he would start rolling, swimming upside down, and slapping the water with his flukes. One day, the scientist played Beethoven. Hyak responded by lifting his head and flukes out of the water, spraying fountains of water from his mouth, waving his flukes as if conducting, slapping the water, and rolling, while his dorsal fin quivered constantly. He was dancing to Beethoven. Hyak was also fascinated by books that had pictures of orcas. Another scientist at the aquarium would put up books to the glass of Hyak's tank, and he would gaze intently at the pictures of wild orcas for long periods of time.
Captivity and its tragic consequences were big themes in the book. In 1970, the infamous Penn Cove capture occurred on Whidbey Island in Washington state, where the entire Southern Resident orca population was herded with boats, planes, and explosives. The locals tried to free the orcas but were stopped by armed guards. Five orcas drowned in the nets (an adult and four calves). Seven juvenile orcas were captured and transported to various marine parks. One of them was the famous orca Lolita, also known as Tokitae and Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut. She was sold to the Miami Seaquarium, where she spent over half a century in the world's smallest orca tank. There was finally some hope a few years ago when the Miami Seaquarium finally agreed to release Lolita to a sea sanctuary. Lolita died in 2023, before any plans could be finalized. After a necropsy was done, she was cremated, and her ashes were given to the Lummi Nation tribe, who scattered them in the Salish Sea in a private ceremony. It's heartbreaking that only in death was she able to finally come home.
January 15, 2020
Full disclosure: I am the publisher and the proofreader of this book. I don't normally review books I work on, but this one is special. Because oh my god, this book is beautiful. I have actually cried multiple times working on it, reading a passage or coming across a photo...ever time I turn a page, I am amazed—or gutted—by something new I see. This is one of the most, if not the most, beautiful things I've ever worked on, and I hope, one of the most important.
Spirits of the Coast is an anthology of writing, original artwork and photography by scientists, artists, wilderness guides, activists and elders from across cultures and generations. In its pages, we learn the stories of Luna, Skana, Granny, Tahlequah, Haida and Tilikum, Namu and Shamu, Rhapsody, and many more...and of course, our beloved and imperilled Southern Residents. You'll love them, you'll cry for them, and I hope you'll put the book down wanting to help them.
This book is an introduction to the biology, ecology and culture of orcas. It's a celebration (and sometimes a critique) of the many varied relationships we humans have had with them over millennia. It's a collected testimony of eco-grief. But more than anything, it's a love letter to the Salish Sea, and the non-human people we share it with, and must protect it for.
Spirits of the Coast is an anthology of writing, original artwork and photography by scientists, artists, wilderness guides, activists and elders from across cultures and generations. In its pages, we learn the stories of Luna, Skana, Granny, Tahlequah, Haida and Tilikum, Namu and Shamu, Rhapsody, and many more...and of course, our beloved and imperilled Southern Residents. You'll love them, you'll cry for them, and I hope you'll put the book down wanting to help them.
This book is an introduction to the biology, ecology and culture of orcas. It's a celebration (and sometimes a critique) of the many varied relationships we humans have had with them over millennia. It's a collected testimony of eco-grief. But more than anything, it's a love letter to the Salish Sea, and the non-human people we share it with, and must protect it for.
June 6, 2020
'Spirits of the Coast: Orcas in Science, Art, and History' is an absolutely magnificent book! The editors did a phenomenal job with the breathtaking photography and provided gripping information on (what has been to me) the misunderstood Orca. They are seemingly as curious about us as we about them! This book provides a wonderfully written overview and this will be one I, family and friends will pick up multiple times as it is admired on my coffee table!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win this "gem" of a book on goodreads giveaways. What a treat!!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win this "gem" of a book on goodreads giveaways. What a treat!!
December 24, 2022
Spirits of the Coast may be interesting only to those who know nothing about killer whales, but even then, I'd recommend way better books. There's very little that I haven't read about in other publications already, and the quality of essays varies greatly - most of them are mediocre, and many of them repeat the same info; did the editors not notice, or did they not care? For anyone who's read a comprehensive book or two about orcas, and for those who look for good orca books: I'd skip this one.
April 5, 2020
As a lover of all thing orca I knew I just had to read this book. And it was beautiful from cover to cover. There are many books out there about orcas, from introductory marine science books for kids to exposés about orcas in captivity. Spirits of the Coast captures all of that, as well as the elements I have often found to be missing from previous books, most notably that of an indigenous perspective. Through stories, poems, retellings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, museum exhibits, reflections, and articles, Spirits of the Coast captures a wide perspective on the amazing orcas and their history of interactions with humans. From the heartbreaking and despairing to the hopeful and uplifting, Spirits of the Coast is a powerful compendium.
Spirits of the Coast is divided into three main sections: Connection, Captivity and Consciousness. Throughout each, the power and magnificence of the orca is clearly portrayed. There is respect and awe and it seeps through every word, photograph and artwork.
At all times this is a book about orcas from a human perspective. That perspective spans many generations, cultures, opinions and angles. I loved that it contains many works of art, stories, and retellings from an indigenous perspective. Other books on orcas and their interactions with humans often neglect this perspective. It is so important.
As I read the foreword I discovered that Spirits of the Coast is a companion to the Royal BC Museum’s 2020 feature exhibition Orcas: Our Shared Future. I talked myself out of immediately booking myself a plane ticket (can’t justify the waste of out planet’s resources to fuel my own desire to be there in person) and contented myself with reading this book from cover to cover. It’s a wonderful and heartbreaking journey. As they so often do, the stories about orcas in this book brought me to tears and the poignant history is both informative and captivating. The contributors to this book vary greatly and come from a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives, including scientists, first nations peoples, museum curators, photographers, historians, artists and more. Yet, despite the investigation of the past, like the exhibit, this book points to the future and the importance of the orca’s role in it.
Spirits of the Coast is perfect for historians, researchers, museum visitors or lovers of orcas.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Spirits of the Coast is divided into three main sections: Connection, Captivity and Consciousness. Throughout each, the power and magnificence of the orca is clearly portrayed. There is respect and awe and it seeps through every word, photograph and artwork.
At all times this is a book about orcas from a human perspective. That perspective spans many generations, cultures, opinions and angles. I loved that it contains many works of art, stories, and retellings from an indigenous perspective. Other books on orcas and their interactions with humans often neglect this perspective. It is so important.
As I read the foreword I discovered that Spirits of the Coast is a companion to the Royal BC Museum’s 2020 feature exhibition Orcas: Our Shared Future. I talked myself out of immediately booking myself a plane ticket (can’t justify the waste of out planet’s resources to fuel my own desire to be there in person) and contented myself with reading this book from cover to cover. It’s a wonderful and heartbreaking journey. As they so often do, the stories about orcas in this book brought me to tears and the poignant history is both informative and captivating. The contributors to this book vary greatly and come from a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives, including scientists, first nations peoples, museum curators, photographers, historians, artists and more. Yet, despite the investigation of the past, like the exhibit, this book points to the future and the importance of the orca’s role in it.
Spirits of the Coast is perfect for historians, researchers, museum visitors or lovers of orcas.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
August 25, 2020
This was the perfect book to read during a week long kayak trip to the Broughton Archipelago!
March 15, 2020
This book begins where it should, with a tale of supernatural Orcas told by GwaaGanad Diane Brown, Ts'aahl Eagle woman of the Haida Nation, to her daughter-in-law Kihlgula Gaay-ya Severn Cullis-Suzuki. Some young Haida men embarked on a hunting trip only to be lost at sea. They returned after three years with a tale of living in Japan, then having the privilege of being guided back to their home by the Orcas. With this story begins, a lovely book about Orcas and their interconnectedness to us.
This book is a collection of essays, stories, photos, and art. As one might expect from a book curated by the Royal BC Museum, this is a respectful, factual and beautiful account of Orcas. The written contributions cover a wide variety of topics: political discussions about the health and future of Orcas, their captivity for study, the distinctiveness of the BC Coastal Orca pods, multiple threats the whales face, stories told by Indigenous people.
One of the common themes of the Indigenous stories in the book is the connection that is felt between the Orca and the various peoples of the Coast. Agreements were made in the past with the Orcas to exist in harmony, the Orcas have saved Indigenous people who were in danger. there is a beautiful Haida story that reveals that Orcas are the "embodied souls of humans" who drowned at sea.
This book isn't all history and science. There is a fascinating chapter on pop culture and the ongoing evolution of its relationship with the Orca. We have gone from hunting to watching them in captivity, to wanting to free them. The easily recognizable image of the Orca has been in films, books, TV shows, on baseball caps and lunch boxes. There are famous Orcas that we have embraced over the years, not all of whom have lived happily or in the wild. But we've always been intrigued by them.
This book would make a beautiful gift for someone with connections to the Salish sea, but it's also amazing to read if you just love Orcas. This is such an interesting mix of stories, essays, photos, and artwork. I would gladly recommend this to any reader.
This book is a collection of essays, stories, photos, and art. As one might expect from a book curated by the Royal BC Museum, this is a respectful, factual and beautiful account of Orcas. The written contributions cover a wide variety of topics: political discussions about the health and future of Orcas, their captivity for study, the distinctiveness of the BC Coastal Orca pods, multiple threats the whales face, stories told by Indigenous people.
One of the common themes of the Indigenous stories in the book is the connection that is felt between the Orca and the various peoples of the Coast. Agreements were made in the past with the Orcas to exist in harmony, the Orcas have saved Indigenous people who were in danger. there is a beautiful Haida story that reveals that Orcas are the "embodied souls of humans" who drowned at sea.
This book isn't all history and science. There is a fascinating chapter on pop culture and the ongoing evolution of its relationship with the Orca. We have gone from hunting to watching them in captivity, to wanting to free them. The easily recognizable image of the Orca has been in films, books, TV shows, on baseball caps and lunch boxes. There are famous Orcas that we have embraced over the years, not all of whom have lived happily or in the wild. But we've always been intrigued by them.
This book would make a beautiful gift for someone with connections to the Salish sea, but it's also amazing to read if you just love Orcas. This is such an interesting mix of stories, essays, photos, and artwork. I would gladly recommend this to any reader.
January 1, 2022
Collection of essays by many scientists, First Nations chiefs and storytellers, artists, and nature writers. Altogether, it gives a comprehensive view into the ecological plight of killer whales in the Salish Sea while also emphasizing humans role in driving them toward extinction, whether throughout the era of capture and aquarium captivity or all that is making it difficult today for them to find sufficient salmon to eat. Many of the writers also use similarities between orcas and ourselves to argue that we share the same ultimate fate, and creating environmental protections for the orca is critical for protecting our own way of life, given our dependence on the oceans.
With so many authors some chapters are obviously going to be more engaging and better written than others, but it is all high quality work and well put-together.
With so many authors some chapters are obviously going to be more engaging and better written than others, but it is all high quality work and well put-together.
May 25, 2020
Many trips to the BC Coast and to be able to see the Orcas was always a highlight of my time there... there are many books and stories of the Orcas.
However this book is a collection of essays, stories, photos, and art giving the respectful, and beautiful account of Orcas as one might expect with a book curated by the Royal BC Museum. It starts with the tale of supernatural Orcas as told by the Haida Nation, covers a wide variety of topics: political, health, future, captivity, distinctiveness and threats of the Orcas, but isn't all history and science, includes stories as told by the Indigenous people the ongoing evolution of our relationship with the Orcas, we have always been intrigued by them.
A beatuiful book for yourself and as a gift to someone who wants to have the connections with the BC Orcas.
However this book is a collection of essays, stories, photos, and art giving the respectful, and beautiful account of Orcas as one might expect with a book curated by the Royal BC Museum. It starts with the tale of supernatural Orcas as told by the Haida Nation, covers a wide variety of topics: political, health, future, captivity, distinctiveness and threats of the Orcas, but isn't all history and science, includes stories as told by the Indigenous people the ongoing evolution of our relationship with the Orcas, we have always been intrigued by them.
A beatuiful book for yourself and as a gift to someone who wants to have the connections with the BC Orcas.
September 27, 2020
It is a privilege to see orca in their natural environment, and I feel lucky to live on the West Coast where we often see them from the ferry or sometimes from the shore. This is a beautiful book. A coffee table book to be sure but one that is filled with photos, essays and other writing about these magnificent animals. We know they are under threat from pollution and the sheer noise and busy-ness that we humans inflict on the ocean. I hope many people read this book and join the environmentalists who strive to make the world a safer place for these wonderful creatures.
July 14, 2020
It’s such a beautiful book, filled with artwork, poetry, Western scientific knowledge, and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge. Reading through this book, my mind constantly fluctuated between “wow, Orcas are just amazing” and “how could we as a species be so clueless?” It is definitely worth reading, and makes the perfect coffee table book.
If you love orcas and/or want to learn more about these complex, incredible aquatic beings, this book is for you.
If you love orcas and/or want to learn more about these complex, incredible aquatic beings, this book is for you.
April 1, 2020
This was an amazing title about some of the most magnificent creatures on our planet. From science to art this book gives you a well rounded and beautiful look at Orcas. I could not put it down and myself and my kids were amazed at all the information thats in this one.
April 22, 2025
Love orca’s ga tattoo zetten
January 22, 2022
A fantastic yet tragic view on the problems orcas face today, all of them man-made. I used this book as a reference for a novel I'm writing. I admittedly didn't finish the entire piece, primarily because it breaks my heart to read the stories of what these beautiful creatures are going through. However, I respect that these issues are coming to light and hope we can learn how to live among these ancient spirits.
May 11, 2022
If orca whales intrigue you, so will Spirits of the Coast-Orcas in Science, Art and History. It has the artistic beauty of a coffee table book but is much more. It begs to be read in instalments, with breaks for reflection, or discussing gems of content with our children.
For centuries, orcas were feared as monsters and labelled as vermin. It was orcas like Moby Doll and Namu that opened human eyes and hearts. Moby Doll enchanted. While coping with the stresses of captivity, Namu let her trainer touch, scratch and ride her. The gentleness of Namu triggered the wide-spread capture, transportation and sale of live orcas. Skana convinced neuroscientist Paul Spong, who was testing her intelligence, that in fact, she was testing his.
The book introduces several orcas who taught us lessons in how to understand them. Meet some of the orcas and their activist protectors who later ensured an end to whales in captivity. Whale activists were, and still are, a diverse lot, many being children. In 1987 when environmentalist David Suzuki took his eight-year-old daughter to film orcas in the wild, she wept instead of being awed. Asked why, she said, “Look how far it went on one breath of air…and those whales in the aquarium are kept in a tiny tank.” A child clearly saw the problem cetaceans faced in captivity.
With these open eyes, the book also explores the intensifying threats to orcas including physical injury and acoustic disturbance from vessels, the contamination of our oceans and degraded food sources. It explores how pop culture can yo-yo public perception. The TV show Flipper and movie Free Willy warmed attitudes toward whales. The movie Jaws and the monster movie Orca: The Killer Whale chilled audiences.
The book also helps unlock the sensory world of the orca. Tahlequah swam carrying her dead calf in a 17-day exhausting ritual of mourning. Haida sang her orca language to the accompaniment of jazz flautist Paul Horn.
Spirits of the Coast is rich in the personal experience of those who have spent time with orcas. Ocean-based scientists. Aquarium trainers. Indigenous watchmen, authors and culture keepers.
Indigenous people relate through oral history and legend how orca led their hungry people to fish, and their canoes through dense fog to safely reach their home communities. The content is diverse, as are the sources and media which range from anecdote, to science factoid, to poem and art.
What unfolds is the reality that whales teach us. This a major transition from the days of humans teaching orcas tricks strictly for our entertainment. We have much more to learn from these unique creatures that warrant our understanding and protection.
Spirits of the Coasts shares legend and learning, history, science and art. It is edited by Martha Black, Lorne Hammond and Gavin Hanke, with Nikki Sanchez. It sells in The Royal British Columbia Museum giftshop and online at https://shop.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
For centuries, orcas were feared as monsters and labelled as vermin. It was orcas like Moby Doll and Namu that opened human eyes and hearts. Moby Doll enchanted. While coping with the stresses of captivity, Namu let her trainer touch, scratch and ride her. The gentleness of Namu triggered the wide-spread capture, transportation and sale of live orcas. Skana convinced neuroscientist Paul Spong, who was testing her intelligence, that in fact, she was testing his.
The book introduces several orcas who taught us lessons in how to understand them. Meet some of the orcas and their activist protectors who later ensured an end to whales in captivity. Whale activists were, and still are, a diverse lot, many being children. In 1987 when environmentalist David Suzuki took his eight-year-old daughter to film orcas in the wild, she wept instead of being awed. Asked why, she said, “Look how far it went on one breath of air…and those whales in the aquarium are kept in a tiny tank.” A child clearly saw the problem cetaceans faced in captivity.
With these open eyes, the book also explores the intensifying threats to orcas including physical injury and acoustic disturbance from vessels, the contamination of our oceans and degraded food sources. It explores how pop culture can yo-yo public perception. The TV show Flipper and movie Free Willy warmed attitudes toward whales. The movie Jaws and the monster movie Orca: The Killer Whale chilled audiences.
The book also helps unlock the sensory world of the orca. Tahlequah swam carrying her dead calf in a 17-day exhausting ritual of mourning. Haida sang her orca language to the accompaniment of jazz flautist Paul Horn.
Spirits of the Coast is rich in the personal experience of those who have spent time with orcas. Ocean-based scientists. Aquarium trainers. Indigenous watchmen, authors and culture keepers.
Indigenous people relate through oral history and legend how orca led their hungry people to fish, and their canoes through dense fog to safely reach their home communities. The content is diverse, as are the sources and media which range from anecdote, to science factoid, to poem and art.
What unfolds is the reality that whales teach us. This a major transition from the days of humans teaching orcas tricks strictly for our entertainment. We have much more to learn from these unique creatures that warrant our understanding and protection.
Spirits of the Coasts shares legend and learning, history, science and art. It is edited by Martha Black, Lorne Hammond and Gavin Hanke, with Nikki Sanchez. It sells in The Royal British Columbia Museum giftshop and online at https://shop.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
Read
March 19, 2022 For those seeking out a book the entire family could enjoy, SPIRITS OF THE COAST, is for you. What sets this book apart is the variety of material contained within. Every aspect of Orcas is noted. It compiles the works and knowledge of a vast array of people who have teamed together to make the book a classic.
The book is published through the Royal B.C. Museum, and there was to have been a massive display to coincide with the release of the book. Of course with the Covid-19 crisis, things were altered. But for now you certainly can view something that will hold you in great awe.
The book looks at Orcas from various aspects, from their history to their myths, and to the reality they are most amazing creatures often misunderstood, and now considered an endangered species. They were hunted and often used for amusement at animal theme parks. They were meant to be free as seen in the popular movie Free Willy.
The book looks at their human-like qualities, and how their family bond is akin to humans. They feel pain, sadness, elation and depression. The contributors to the book make sure all facets of the Orcas life are noted. In the three sections, Connection, Captivity, and Consciousness, their ties to Indigenous peoples are also told in detail.
The book also showcases awe-inspiring photos, capturing Orcas in a new light. With our changing environment, it is even more vital to protect them, the book serving as a rallying cry for their future.
The book is published through the Royal B.C. Museum, and there was to have been a massive display to coincide with the release of the book. Of course with the Covid-19 crisis, things were altered. But for now you certainly can view something that will hold you in great awe.
The book looks at Orcas from various aspects, from their history to their myths, and to the reality they are most amazing creatures often misunderstood, and now considered an endangered species. They were hunted and often used for amusement at animal theme parks. They were meant to be free as seen in the popular movie Free Willy.
The book looks at their human-like qualities, and how their family bond is akin to humans. They feel pain, sadness, elation and depression. The contributors to the book make sure all facets of the Orcas life are noted. In the three sections, Connection, Captivity, and Consciousness, their ties to Indigenous peoples are also told in detail.
The book also showcases awe-inspiring photos, capturing Orcas in a new light. With our changing environment, it is even more vital to protect them, the book serving as a rallying cry for their future.
March 18, 2024
Published Killer Whale ecologist here 🙌: I really wanted to enjoy this book. The art, the stories from 1st nation tribes, and touching moments of connection were the best parts. However, anytime a few of the several authors jumped in it turned into a kooky opinion piece. The authors seem to have a false dichotomy in their heads that being a “Killer Whale” is a bad thing. They also can’t seem to grasp that a species can be wonderfully complex, passionate for each other, have strong social/family bonds, intelligent, and also shred any living thing it feels like eating (just like people btw). From an ecological perspective prey species need orcas for the same reason elk need wolves. Top down pressure on prey species drive the entire ecosystem. Killer Whales are the top predators of the ocean, and are one of the reasons for the migration of other cetaceans through fear. This is a very good thing, this fear moves the nutrient pumps of the world to locations across the globe. It’s just very short sighted to presume “killer” automatically makes them killers of people or a bad thing to say. It is very narcissistic of these authors to insert themselves (humans) into their world.
July 25, 2024
A touching and informative work about Orcas and Indigenous culture.
June 19, 2025
Interesting info
December 30, 2025
I enjoyed reading some parts of this book but I found reading about orcas in captivity very difficult reading.
January 28, 2026
A remarkable set of stories, essays and paintings about orcas, their culture, ecology and significance.
November 10, 2022
Book Review: Spirits of the Coast: Orcas in Science, Art, and History, Published by the Royal BC Museum.
Could a whale be sending us, humans, a message? A message about our destiny and survival as a specie? If you are curious about the answer, you must read Spirits of the Coast. Perhaps you are wondering why you should read a book about Killer Whales? The answer is simple: Their tales may help us better understand the fragility of the ocean's ecosystem, the close relationship it has with us humans, and most importantly, how every one of us can contribute to saving them, saving the seas, and ultimately, saving ourselves!
Spirits of the Coast is a fascinating book that entails a well-balanced blend of scientific data, intriguing stories from academics, orca trainers, musicians, cinematographers, and historians. It even includes tales from First Nations. Also known as Killer Whales, these majestic animals have been revealed to be somewhat "gentle soles" with exceptional intelligence rather than just "vicious killers". This explains why First Nations have respected and honoured Orcas in their cultures for centuries. What is fascinating about this illustrated book, is that it provides the reader with a deep understanding that the Orcas' survival will not be just about managing the oceans. It is about managing ourselves. Overfishing, throwing household pollutants into the seas, noise from vessels, are only some issues in a long list. Addressing these threats will mean confronting our human activities. I will conclude with a Trivia: Did you know that Spirits of the Coast was the Independent Publisher (IP) 2021 Gold Medal Award Winner in the Best Regional Non-Fiction category? No wonder it is such a great book! But guess which book came second in the same category? Leading at the Edge: True Tales from Canadian Police in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping Missions Around the World from yours truly!!
Could a whale be sending us, humans, a message? A message about our destiny and survival as a specie? If you are curious about the answer, you must read Spirits of the Coast. Perhaps you are wondering why you should read a book about Killer Whales? The answer is simple: Their tales may help us better understand the fragility of the ocean's ecosystem, the close relationship it has with us humans, and most importantly, how every one of us can contribute to saving them, saving the seas, and ultimately, saving ourselves!
Spirits of the Coast is a fascinating book that entails a well-balanced blend of scientific data, intriguing stories from academics, orca trainers, musicians, cinematographers, and historians. It even includes tales from First Nations. Also known as Killer Whales, these majestic animals have been revealed to be somewhat "gentle soles" with exceptional intelligence rather than just "vicious killers". This explains why First Nations have respected and honoured Orcas in their cultures for centuries. What is fascinating about this illustrated book, is that it provides the reader with a deep understanding that the Orcas' survival will not be just about managing the oceans. It is about managing ourselves. Overfishing, throwing household pollutants into the seas, noise from vessels, are only some issues in a long list. Addressing these threats will mean confronting our human activities. I will conclude with a Trivia: Did you know that Spirits of the Coast was the Independent Publisher (IP) 2021 Gold Medal Award Winner in the Best Regional Non-Fiction category? No wonder it is such a great book! But guess which book came second in the same category? Leading at the Edge: True Tales from Canadian Police in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping Missions Around the World from yours truly!!
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