I live here, in the great Northwest and have been watching the Makah Whale hunting issue from the get go. In the 1920's the Makah stopped their whale hunting due to the Gary Whale being on the endangered species list. In 1994 they were taken off the list. In recent years the Whale population and increased tremendously. So much so that there is not enough food, some scientist say, to keep the Gary Whale feed. Last year alone there were over 200 Whales that washed up on the pacific coastline. And I am sure the numbers where just as high in past years. Recently, the current in front of a local bed and breakfast, washed up a whale, which happens to be owned by a local congressman.
With all the publicity that went on last year regarding the "save the whale" protesters, who are back again this year I might add, over the Makah hunting of the Gray Whale. I for the life of me do not understand why there is not more concern about the whales that are washing ashore. The Makah are only taking 5 whales a year. And if you put that against the numbers of whales dying per year, you would think there would be much more concern over the fact that they are dying rather then the Makah hunting them.
Hunting the Gray Whale for the Makah has been a tradition for them that stems back 2000 years. In the 1970's an archeological dig uncovered evidence of ancient hunting of the Gray Whales. Which continued until the 1920's as stated earlier. Whale hunting was granted as part of the original treaty. And I quote, "Under the treaty made by the United States with Makahs in 1855, the United States promised to secure to the Makahs the right to engage in whaling. This is the only treaty ever made by the United States which contains such a guarantee. The treaty, which was ratified by the United States Congress in 1855, is the law of the land under the U.S. Constitution and has been upheld by the federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. To us, the Makah Treaty is as powerful and meaningful a document as the U.S. Constitution is to other Americans; it is what our forefathers bequeathed to us." You can find this quote and more information at the Makah site at: http://www.makah.com/whales.htm
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