In 2004, a whale name Luna mysteriously showed up one day in Nootka Sound. The whale was later identified as the lost whale from the Vancouver Island L POD. The lone Killer Whale (Orca) located off the coastlines of Gold River, BC, Canada drew plenty of attention from the international media and other concerned parties.

Many groups stepped up wanting to take part in the Luna situation. Government officials, First Nations people, environmentalist, local residents of Gold River all had something to say. The Government scientists and First Nations people took a more active approach... and often, butt heads.

For 3 years the 5 year old Killer Whale named Luna patrolled the waters off Nootka Sound in Canada. It is thought that Luna had been separated from the migrating family pod while passing through Nootka Sound. A ritual every year performed by the L POD transient whales migrating to warmer waters following the fish food supply up and down the North American western coastline.

Luna was a beautiful, playful Killer Whale, who for some freak reason decided on the Nootka Sound as its home away from L Pod (Luna's Orca family). The same Nootka Sound famous for the Chief Maquinna and Captain James Cook historic encounter in establishing Canada.

For years Luna fed off the fish in the sound and was seen off the shores of the Gold River Government Wharf by many locals, visitors and fisherman. Luna was criticized by some as interfering with boats, breaking props and just, simply being too friendly... just wanting to play.

In June of 2005, Luna became the centre of attention as the First Nations people and the Federal Scientist clashed in belief systems. Because of the growing interaction of Luna with fishing boats the Feds tried to capture Luna in an effort to reunite the Killer Whale with the L-Pod feeding off the coasts of Vancouver Island. What was not taken into consideration was the First Nations people of the Mowachaht-Muchalaht.

Mowachaht-Muchalaht believe that Luna embodies the spirit of their late chief, Ambrose Maquinna, who said he would return to them in the form of a whale after he died. Well ... get this! Days after the chief passed away years ago, guess who shows up... Luna ... at the Gold River wharf. Or, should we say... Chief Ambrose Maquinna fulfilling his promise to return home as a whale!

News of the Federal scientists plans of capturing Luna resulted in the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nations to set out in canoes to lure Luna or Chief Ambrose Maquinna away from the nets and underwater pen the scientists had set up. Paddling canoes, chanting songs and beating their drums the Mowachaht-Muchalaht drew Luna away from the capture pen. After a tense week-long stand-off with no violence which was awesome, the plan to capture Luna was terminated.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nations had set up a joint partnership program to establish a monitoring system to follow the Killer Whale's activities monitoring Luna's interaction with boats and the general public.

Never was this completed, as Luna passed away on....