Makah Makah tribe and tribe and Whaling Whaling RightsRights

ControversControversyy

Should the Makah Should the Makah be allowed to be allowed to hunt whales hunt whales again?again?

Background Background informationinformation

A Makah A Makah TraditionTradition

Whaling=Makah Tradition

•Tribe on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington

•History of whaling and sealing• In 1855, Treaty of Neah Bay: granted

Makah right to whale•only US treaty to allow whaling•Last whale hunt in 1920’s – declined

pop. due to commerical whaling

Makah Tradition•Traditionally hunted Humpbacks, Right, Sperm, Gray, Fin and Blue whales.

•Gray whale listed on Endangered Species List in 1970; removed in 1994.

Controversy BeginsControversy Begins

•Makah request to begin whaling 70 yrs after they voluntarily quit b/c commercial whaling reduced whale populations

•Because of 1855 treaty, US could not deny them (1855 has precedent over IWC of 1946)

•Makah asked US Government to get approval from IWC as aboriginal subsistence whaling (5 whales per year)

Controversy ContinuesIn 1996, US asked IWC for 5 Gray whales per year for

Makah

It was DENIED:• - no longer a continuing tradition• - no longer a nutritional need

In 1997, US asked again BUT…• - US made a side deal with Russia to exchange whales• - Makah request coupled with Russia’s aboriginal

renewal request• - Harder to deny since IWC would have to deny Russia• Makah granted 20 gray whales killed or 33 wounded

over 5 years

Traditional Traditional Makah Whale Makah Whale

HuntHunt

Modern 1999Modern 1999Makah Whale Makah Whale

HuntHunt

Continuing ControversyContinuing Controversy

•Many oppose the IWC’s Many oppose the IWC’s decision to allow Makah decision to allow Makah to hunt whales, to hunt whales, claiming it’s unfair and claiming it’s unfair and no longer culturally no longer culturally necessary.necessary.

Recent EventRecent Event•September 2007September 2007

•Five Makah men shot and killed a Five Makah men shot and killed a whale without tribal or National whale without tribal or National Marine Fisheries Service permissionMarine Fisheries Service permission

Brought up the controversy started Brought up the controversy started in 1994 all over again!in 1994 all over again!

Makah RightsMakah Rights

Makah should be able Makah should be able to whaleto whale

•It is a long standing It is a long standing cultural tradition.cultural tradition.

•Whales are killed using Whales are killed using humane technology.humane technology.

•1855 Treaty grants them 1855 Treaty grants them the right to whale.the right to whale.

EnvironmentalEnvironmentalist Oppositionist Opposition

Makah should NOT be able Makah should NOT be able to hunt whalesto hunt whales

• Hunting whales is no longer Hunting whales is no longer necessary for Makah survival.necessary for Makah survival.

• Hunting whales is no longer a Hunting whales is no longer a cultural tradition for the Makah, and cultural tradition for the Makah, and they do not use traditional methods.they do not use traditional methods.