Safety
Notcho is towed to a Squamish Nation village for a ceremony
CBC News reported that the humpback Notcho, struck by a BC Ferries vessel, has been towed to the Squamish Nation village of Xwemelch’stn for a cultural ceremony. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard moved the whale from West Bay near Gambier Island. A necropsy is underway, and results are expected to take months.
Source: CBC News (opens in a new tab)
CBC News reported on 30 October 2026 that a dead humpback struck by a BC Ferries vessel has been towed to a Squamish Nation village for a cultural ceremony. The whale, identified as Notcho (BCX1700), was seen floating off Gambier Island on Monday night after being struck a week earlier in the same area. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard have towed the whale from West Bay near Gambier Island to the village of Xwemelch’stn (Capilano) in West Vancouver.
Chairperson Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams of the Squamish Nation said whales are considered sacred relatives with profound cultural and spiritual importance. He said on Thursday: “Being on site was challenging today because our hearts go out to the loss of life, and you can feel the power of such a beautiful mammal.” The Squamish Nation is planning a private cultural ceremony and is asking the public for privacy.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is conducting a necropsy and collecting samples to determine the whale’s exact cause of death. CBC News reported that the results are expected to take months.