Experience Tokitae’s Reality: A 3D Mixed Reality Art Installation

The Friday Harbor Film Festival is proud to sponsor the free presentation of the compelling 3D mixed reality installation, Tokitae’s Reality.

This impactful art experience is offered in conjunction with our July 16 screening of the acclaimed documentary Resident Orca, chronicling the decades the Southern Resident orca Tokitae spent confined at the Miami Seaquarium and the dedicated efforts to secure her freedom.

Tokitae’s story began tragically on August 8, 1970, when she was forcibly captured during one of the most infamous orca roundups in history at Penn Cove, near Whidbey Island, Washington. The operation used spotter planes, speedboats, and explosives to herd approximately 80 Southern Resident orcas—primarily from the L pod—into the cove. Five whales, including four calves, died after becoming entangled in nets. Seven young orcas, including Tokitae—estimated at only four years old—were captured and sold to marine parks worldwide. Tokitae herself was purchased by the Miami Seaquarium for about $20,000. These captures, occurring throughout the 1960s and 1970s, had devastating consequences for the Southern Resident population, removing an entire generation of reproductive females and calves, a loss from which this now federally endangered population has yet to fully recover.

Originally created in 2022 by immersive media artist Mark Kyle (aka morpheous), Tokitae’s Reality invites participants to step into a human-scaled virtual replica of Tokitae’s cramped tank, confronting the stark reality of her captivity.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind the project, Kyle explains:

“I wanted to elicit a sense of empathy in the viewer regarding Tokitae’s confinement in an extremely small tank at the Miami Seaquarium, and provide a way for users to take immediate and direct action while ‘inside’ the virtual tank.”

Tragically, Tokitae died in captivity before the worldwide efforts by individuals, groups, and organizations to free her could be realized. The documentary Resident Orca chronicles one such effort and will be screened on July 16 at 7 PM at the San Juan Community Theatre followed by an expert panel discussion and Q&A. The panel includes Simon Schneider (film director), Dr. Michael Weiss (Research Director, Center for Whale Research), Dr. Deborah Giles (Killer Whale Scientist, SeaDoc Society), and Squil-le-he-le (Executive Producer, Lummi Nation Matriarch). More information and reserved seating tickets for this screening are available on FHFF.org HERE.

Tokitae’s Reality will be available to view free of charge July 15–17 on San Juan Island and July 19–20 on Orcas Island. The full experience takes approximately 6-10 minutes on a provided iPad with headphones.

Full details including dates, times, and locations can be found on the Friday Harbor Film Festival website by clicking the button below.

TOKITAE'S REALITY VIEWING DETAILS