Famed Makah captain quits whaling

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2002

The legal and public relations battle over the whale hunt of the Makah Nation has claimed one of its most visible members.

Wayne Johnson led the tribe's first successful hunt in 1999. But he says local and international opposition, publicity, politics and lack of official funding and support from the tribe as reasons for quitting the hunt from now on.

He also says he might leave the reservation.

In related news, animal-rights activists were in federal court yesterday to ask that the tribe's hunt be shut down until its lawsuit can be resolved.

Get the Story:
If Makahs hunt again, they'll do it without me, captain says (The Seattle Times 5/16)
Makah await court ruling on whale hunt (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 5/16)

Relevant Links:
The Makah Nation - http://www.makah.com

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