Skeena (A13)

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Origin of Name=possibly Skeena River/Skeena Valley

Photos of Skeena

Above: Skeena's ID photo, from Killer Whales by John Ford, Graeme Ellis and Kenneth Balcomb.

Bare Facts: Male ~ Born 1978 ~ Mother Yakat ~ Father Unknown ~ Children Unknown ~ ID Twisting fin; top cut off with deep down the middle

Skeena was born in 1978, to Yakat (A11). Skeena (A13) joined the family of Yakat, his aunt Kelsey (A24), his grandma A10, his great-uncle A4, and his sister Skagit (A35). He spent his youth probably playing with Skagit.
When he was five, his grandmother and aunt/uncle were shot and died. When he was six, his uncle died, and his mother became co-matriarch of the pod.
As Skeena grew up, big changes happened in the pod. Yakat and her family broke away a bit from Kelsey. Skagit began her own family and Skeena gained a sister, Nahwitti (A56). He also lost one, Siwiti (A48).
Around the age of 14, Skeena sprouted, his fin growing tall and straight and rigid. It was sharp enough to rival Nimpkish's (A33's).
Now, Skeena is a full-grown male, the only one in A4 pod, and he's impossible to miss! In 2005, his fin acquired 3 new nicks near the top. Then, in 2006, he showed up with an incredible injury. The top of his fin is sliced off, with a deep split down the middle, and the entire fin is twisting!
He travels with his mother, Springer, and Nahwitti, and sometimes Skagit and her family, Kiltik, Sunny, Roller, Nalau and Canoona. He's easy to identify with his new injury.