"Federal indictments bearing the prospect of jail time and a stiff fine offer rapid, appropriate accountability for an illegal whale hunt conducted last month. The case that began early one September morning with the spontaneous hunting of a gray whale by five Makah Nation tribal members invokes treaty rights, politics and the harsh face of animal brutality in the environmentally sensitive Northwest. But mostly it is about the law. The Makah are the only tribe whose right to whale hunt is explicitly written in treaty. But there are restrictions, set out by tribal, federal and international agreements. The five men ignored those restrictions when they decided to kill a whale without the knowledge or approval of tribal leaders or whaling authorities. The five each now face three misdemeanor counts of conspiracy, unlawful taking of a marine mammal and unauthorized whaling." Get the Story:
Editorial: Payment for a whale (The Seattle Times 10/8) 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:
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)
Makah Nation hires former Slade Gorton aide (9/12)
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)
Makah Nation to discuss rogue hunt on Capitol Hill (9/10)
Russian Natives, Makah Nation share culture, whales (10/25)
Appeals court shoots down Makah whaling case (06/08)
Makah Nation marks fifth year since first whale hunt (05/17)
Tribes and U.S. seek review of whale hunt ruling (03/14)
Opinion: Makah Nation whale hunt is not legal (02/12)
Makah whale hunt faces another review (12/23)
Federal judge shoots down treaty challenge (08/09)
U.S. pushes for whaling rights (6/10)
Whale hunt a go for Makah Nation (7/16)
Makah whale hunt faces threat (3/30)
Friends, foes turn out for Makah hearing (2/2)
Makah whale hunt up for review (01/16)
Court rules on Makah whaling (6/12)
Makah ruling overturned (6/9)
Metcalf's Indian history (6/9)
Metcalf pleased with ruling (6/9)
