What boundary? What whale? Whose responsibility? - Governing Transboundary Waters: Canada, the United States, and Indigenous Communities - page 163

transfer. Although the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation had publicly announced
Txu-xiit's position as the chief incarnate they were not invited to be part of the
DFO-led discussions. This lack of meaningful consultation ultimately led to a series
of high-profile events, including what is now referred to as the “The Nine Days”.
For 9 days, members of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation and the DFO
engaged in what newspapers called a “Tug of Whale”. In an effort to halt the plan
and to keep Tsu-xiit in Nootka Sound, members of the First Nation took to their
canoes and diverted Tsu-xiit away from the holding pens. During the tense days,
the paddlers were able to steer Tsu-xiit away from the capture pens by showering
him with attention. Striking images of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht members
paddling alongside Tsu-xiit , rubbing his side, drumming, and singing traditional
songs, hit the media by storm and launched the story into the public eye (see Figure
9.2). The Mowachaht/Muchalaht decision to resist the move was important,
politically, but it was also a very powerful unifier for the community. This unifi-
cation also provided a powerful resistance against State authority. The way that
the Mowachaht/Muchalaht chose to resist (peacefully through song and canoe)
proved to be a powerful performative act. By taking to human-powered canoes
rather than motorized fishing boats (which were also available) it presented the
situation as a David and Goliath battle. It also helped to frame the issue as deeply
rooted in tradition. The physical and mental will of the community to keep Tsu-
xiit in their water was palpable. The vulnerability of the paddlers (both to the
physical elements and also the high-powered motorized craft which the DFO
officers had) accentuated the asymmetrical power dynamics. These dynamics, in
many ways, worked in the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation's favor.
After Mowachaht/Muchalaht community members started paddling with Tsu -
xiit it was clear that the DFO would need to devise a new plan. An article published
Figure 9.2 Mowachaht/Muchalaht community members paddling with Tsu-xiit during the
9-day stand-off .
Source: Photo taken by Suzanne Chisholm (used with permission).