Published online: Friday, Feb. 6, 2015
SUQUAMISH — A pod of orcas swam closer to the Suquamish Tribe’s barge where Jade Jefferson and his friends were singing during their journey home from the 2013 Salmon Homecoming in Seattle.
As they ended their song, the largest orca breached, Jefferson said.
A sketch of the mural that artist Toma Villa is working on with students at Chief Kitsap Academy. (Rachel Anne Seymour / Kitsap Sun)
Those orca escorts helped inspire part of the floor-to-ceiling mural Jefferson, 13, and the rest of Chief Kitsap Academy’s students are working on with Toma Villa, a Native American artist.
The 30-by-30 foot mural depicts a family of bears — the school’s mascot — canoeing with an orca escort.