Makah whalers plead not guilty for illegal hunt

Wednesday, December 12, 2007  

Five members of the Makah Nation of Washington pleaded not guilty in tribal court to illegally killing a whale.

The five men shot a gray whale on September 8 without tribal or federal approval. They face a January 22 trial in tribal court and a March 18 trial in federal court.

Under its 1855 treaty, the tribe has a right to hunt whale. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the tribe has to obtain a federal permit under the Marine Mammals Protection Act.

The tribe has been going through the permitting process but the National Marine Fisheries Service has not made a decision.

Get the Story:
Whalers plead not guilty to tribal charges (The Peninsula Daily News 12/12)

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:
Makah Nation charges five for unauthorized hunt (11/27)
Rogue Makah whalers seek delay in federal trial (11/12)
Editorial: Makah hunters to pay price for illegal hunt (10/8)
Rogue Makah hunters indicted on federal charges (10/5)
Opinion: Makah Nation has treaty right to hunt (10/5)
Federal probe into Makah whale hunt ongoing (09/18)
Editorial: Makah Nation must punish rogue hunters (9/14)
Letters: Readers discuss illegal Makah whale hunt (9/14)
Makah leaders hopeful after Washington meetings (9/13)
Column: Makah Nation shouldn't hunt whales (9/13)
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Editorial: Illegal hunt may be last for Makah Nation (9/12)
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)
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