2 new state ferries named Samish, Tokitae
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington Transportation Commission has decided to name two new state ferries the Samish and the Tokitae.
The commission says the names selected at Tuesday's meeting in Tacoma keep the tradition of giving ferries regional tribal names.
Among the names that didn't float were Ivar Haglund and four other tribal names: Cowlitz, Hoquiam, Muckleshoot, and Sammamish. Haglund was founder of the Ivar's seafood restaurant chain.
The first of the 144-car ferries under construction will be named Tokitae, a greeting meaning "nice day, pretty colors." It's also the name of a Washington orca better known as Lolita at the Miami Sequarium.
Samish is a tribal word meaning "giving people."
The commission says the names selected at Tuesday's meeting in Tacoma keep the tradition of giving ferries regional tribal names.
Among the names that didn't float were Ivar Haglund and four other tribal names: Cowlitz, Hoquiam, Muckleshoot, and Sammamish. Haglund was founder of the Ivar's seafood restaurant chain.
The first of the 144-car ferries under construction will be named Tokitae, a greeting meaning "nice day, pretty colors." It's also the name of a Washington orca better known as Lolita at the Miami Sequarium.
Samish is a tribal word meaning "giving people."
Well, this boat will be known to me as "Tonka".
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I gleeked! THX I needed that!
"Tokitae"?  From which language is that?  The article doesn't say. A search online only comes up with an orca that had had that as a name.
@hsk It's Canadian. Refers to our newfound legal ability to smoke pot. The proper pronounciation is "Toke it Eh?"
Why are new ones being built ??? It like we have the money to reoair or even maintan them , should but the money towards the boats that are already in service .....
Nikita-- right on! The most important reason to name a new ferry Tokitae is to bring awareness to a Washington native who was captured as a baby in a roundup and massacre in Penn Cove more then 40 years ago. She's been stuck at the Miami Seaquarium dancing for food in an undersized tank every since. Her family is still here in the Puget Sound including an orca nearing 90 who's likely her mother, there's a viable plan to bring her home to a sea pen in the San Juans, and with enough support it will succeed.
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I just wrote a post about this on my blog and noted that it is a fantastic way to teach people who Tokitae is-- present tense-- the second oldest orca in captivity who needs their help. Many people don't realize that orcas have their own language and culture, and despite all these years bobbing around in pool as a money maker for the Seaquarium, Tokitae (known there as Lolita) still recognizes her native dialect. She's been confined long enough and shouldn't have been taken from here in the first place; she needs to come home.
More like "The Unfinish" and the "Taketoolong"
Cynicism is running rampant tonight. Im alright with the tradition remaining instead of naming after individuals. Its similar to the traditions the Navy had naming vessels like Yorktown, Enterprise, etc and then started naming them after politicians. Which, thankfully, was stopped in the past couple years.
JP Patches and the Niehaus had my vote, but heck they wern't Native Americans.
@Habaneroguy Could have put a red nose on each end
I'm glad the ferry was named Tokitae in honor of Lolita the orca. She's been trapped in a tiny concrete tank at the Miami Seaquarium in Florida, with no shade from that blistering sun, alone, for decades, after being brutally captured from her family pod in the Salish sea. Please retire this beautiful intelligent and social wild animal back to her native waters where her family pod still roams (L-pod)!Â
Should have named one after Ivar .He has more class then all the tribes put together. BTW it is still Puget Sound to me not the Salish whatever
After only 5 posts, I don't think I can add anything.
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Why not Uota (pronounced You-Ott-ah) For Union Over-time Abuse for one of 'em?
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From the costs of these they should be called "Taxpayer Benden -Over". It means in Gregoirese: " Nice Day to screw public."
They should have named one after Ivar Hagland. That or let companies purchase naming rights. Good way to make some money for the ferry system. Since I dont think most people care about the names of the ferries.
Toke it ae means "nice day, pretty colors" ? What a way to pay tribute to the passage of I-502! OK, captains, smoke 'em if you got 'em, but please, not before you're on duty.Â