Editorial: Illegal hunt may be last for Makah Nation
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Filed Under:
Opinion
"The Makah's last federally sanctioned hunt was in 1999, after a 70-year hiatus. Many observers, including this editorial page, embraced the cultural significance of the event and supported the spiritual tonic the hunt represented for the tribe.
Subsequent legal challenges by environmental interests imposed new restrictions on Makah whaling. The tribe had been trolling the halls of power in the other Washington looking for an administrative exemption or congressional relief to resume the hunt.
With Saturday's hunt, the tribe shot a large-bore hole in its own foot and lobbying efforts. There was nothing traditional about last weekend's hunt, but it may be the last for a long, long time.
Everyone will be watching the tribe and evaluating its respect for the rule of law before anyone else will commit to what happens next.
In the environmentally sensitive Northwest, hunting whales is a topic that makes politicians nervous. And right now, they are diving for cover."
Get the Story:
Editorial: Hunting for trouble in the path of whales
(The Seattle Times 9/12)
Opinion Letters:
"What type of culture needs a machine gun to kill a defenseless animal?" (The Seattle Times 9/12)
Relevant Documents:
Tribal
Council Statement |
Makah
Tribal Whale Hunt |
Marine
Mammal Protection Act
Court Decisions:
Anderson
v. Evans (June 7, 2004) |
Anderson
v. Evans (December 20, 2002)
Relevant Links:
Makah Nation -
http://www.makah.com
Related Stories:
Unauthorized hunt likely to delay action on
permit (9/11)
Editorial: Makah Nation reacts swiftly to rogue
hunt (9/11)
Editorial: Illegal whale hunters must be
punished (9/11)
Makah Nation blasts
unauthorized whale hunt (9/10)
Makah
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Russian Natives, Makah Nation share culture, whales
(10/25)
Appeals court shoots down Makah
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Makah Nation marks
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Tribes and U.S. seek review of whale
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Opinion:
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Makah whale hunt faces another
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Federal judge
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U.S. pushes for whaling rights
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Whale hunt a go for
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Makah whale
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Friends, foes turn out for Makah hearing
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Makah whale hunt up for
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Court rules on
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Makah ruling
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