A killer whale calf designated as J63 officially has a name.
The Samish Indian Nation chose the name Ts’ele7álhse, which means “the heart of the Salish Sea” in Coast Salish.
It was announced in a ceremony on September 6.
Ts’ele7álhse is the youngest member of J Pod and the first calf born to J40 Suttles.
While most Southern Resident killer whales receive nicknames through a public vote hosted by The Whale Museum, members of the J14 matriline are traditionally named by the Samish Indian Nation.
The tribe’s naming tradition began with the matriarch J14, who was named Samish after the nation.
Ts’ele7álhse and her family are all descendants of J2 Granny, the former matriarch of J Pod.
Ts’ele7álhse travels with her mother, aunts, uncles and cousins in the J14 matriline. She shares a close bond with her cousin J59 SxwyeTqólh and the two are often seen playing together.
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