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Makah tribe and Whaling Rights. Controversy. Should the Makah be allowed to hunt whales again?. Background information. A Makah Tradition. Whaling= Makah Tradition. Tribe on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington History of whaling and sealing
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Controversy Should the Makah be allowed to hunt whales again?
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 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 Continues In 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
Continuing Controversy • Many oppose the IWC’s decision to allow Makah to hunt whales, claiming it’s unfair and no longer culturally necessary.
Recent Event • September 2007 • Five Makah men shot and killed a whale without tribal or National Marine Fisheries Service permission Brought up the controversy started in 1994 all over again!
Makah should be able to whale • It is a long standing cultural tradition. • Whales are killed using humane technology. • 1855 Treaty grants them the right to whale.
Makah should NOT be able to hunt whales • Hunting whales is no longer necessary for Makah survival. • Hunting whales is no longer a cultural tradition for the Makah, and they do not use traditional methods.