Arguments

by: Nadia Omar

The arguments that have been developed to try and stop the Makah from whale hunting
have, to an extent, been a means to further control the culture by the govermnet that is
native to this tribe. Major opponents such as the Sea Shepherd (Whale Wars) have sited the Japanese as responsible for the Makah whale hunt. It's important to note though that the only Japanese involvement that has taken place in Neah Bay was with an organization that the Makah are not even a part of, the World Council of Whales.

Ben Johnson (Makah Tribal Council) has said that “Japan wanted to give us money, to help us buy boats, to show us how to kill the whales, everything....We said no because we knew it would be very controversial, and we want to do everything by the book.” (NAE) Going back to traditional values to support the hunt is amongst some of the many misunderstandings the the Makah face. Members of the Sea Shepherd state that
the Makah are mearly being taken advantage of by the Japanses, being used like pawns and that they are overlypassive people. The Makah greatly oppose this view. The Makah have the desire to hunt because it is IMPORTANT TO THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE. I think it's those on the Sea Shepherd that are trying to manipulate everyone else, and using drastic measures to do so.

Another argument has to do with the rising of technology being used during the hunt. A quote from an unnamed woman
on the Native Americans and Environment website (http://NCSEonline.org/NAE/) blabs :

"If they are so hell bent on going back to their roots, why the hell do they insist on: driving cars,
using internal combustion engines, fibreglass, aluminum, roads, shopping centres,
all the other stuff that has improved their lives since the coming of the “White Man.” " (J.Bray, “Makah Whale Hunt.” Whales on the Net. Last access: 3/18/99.
)

Well now I'm sorry, I had no idea that people were unable to adapt new ways of life and doing things. It's unfair.
Why should these tribes have to choose between culture and trying to keep up in American society and economics.

To conclude I leave you with this paragraph:

"In short, whaling opponents frequently make colonialist arguments that
delegitimize the Makah’s right to whale by comparing the Makah unfavorably
to an ahistorical and idealized portrait of Native Americans. Many non-natives
appreciate in vague terms that Native Americans were “in harmony” with their environment.
With our concern to create a environmentally sound culture and society, Native Americans
form a ready target for the projection of our fears and fantasies. Just as long, of course,
as real Native Americans with real needs do not intrude on these representations. Then an
elaborate arsenal of colonialist arguments can be raised to suggest that it is not our own
stereotypes but modern Native Americans who are wrong. Whatever one believes about the morality
of whale hunting, these arguments are themselves an injustice to the Makah." (NCSE, http://NCSEonline.org/NAE/)