Makah and Whaling
Makah and Whaling
Introduction During the past 30 years the whales gradually became the center of public attention and sympathy. Tourists watching the whales off the eastern coast of the United States and in the lagoons of California, were struck by their remarkable nature and behavior. At the same time, the number of most large whales continued to decline. Certainly whale hunting was rather indiscriminate since the Middle Ages, reaching a point where these mammals were in imminent danger of extinction. It was therefore necessary to regulate the hunting of whales. The whaling leaves few people indifferent. Analysis Makah people, cannot whale even if they want to, but they have a tradition of whaling. Whaling began as part of a food market, its protein-rich meat was quite required. Then there were the Eskimos, who used tendons, bones and skin to make different items of daily living, and using fat for some type of delivery. Over the years more became required products derived from whales. Already in the nineteenth century whaling was increased, leading to the commercialization of products such as soap, some cosmetics, perfumes and paintings, extending this use to luxuries such as corsets, fans or tennis rackets (Townson, 2002).
Whaling history
The history of whaling has been consistently marked by irregularities and breaches despite an international concern about the protection of whales for over fifty years. From the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in London in 1949, which approved the creation of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), has held 56 meetings (in addition to five stages) to discuss the future of these animals (McMillan, 1999).
But governments have always sought ways to circumvent international agreements that attempt to create protected areas or species. Thus, a ban on the catch of blue whales in the Antarctic, was presented the proposal to declare a subspecies, the dwarf blue whale, that this was not
Introduction During the past 30 years the whales gradually became the center of public attention and sympathy. Tourists watching the whales off the eastern coast of the United States and in the lagoons of California, were struck by their remarkable nature and behavior. At the same time, the number of most large whales continued to decline. Certainly whale hunting was rather indiscriminate since the Middle Ages, reaching a point where these mammals were in imminent danger of extinction. It was therefore necessary to regulate the hunting of whales. The whaling leaves few people indifferent. Analysis Makah people, cannot whale even if they want to, but they have a tradition of whaling. Whaling began as part of a food market, its protein-rich meat was quite required. Then there were the Eskimos, who used tendons, bones and skin to make different items of daily living, and using fat for some type of delivery. Over the years more became required products derived from whales. Already in the nineteenth century whaling was increased, leading to the commercialization of products such as soap, some cosmetics, perfumes and paintings, extending this use to luxuries such as corsets, fans or tennis rackets (Townson, 2002).
Whaling history
The history of whaling has been consistently marked by irregularities and breaches despite an international concern about the protection of whales for over fifty years. From the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in London in 1949, which approved the creation of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), has held 56 meetings (in addition to five stages) to discuss the future of these animals (McMillan, 1999).
But governments have always sought ways to circumvent international agreements that attempt to create protected areas or species. Thus, a ban on the catch of blue whales in the Antarctic, was presented the proposal to declare a subspecies, the dwarf blue whale, that this was not
References: Barker, Joanne, 2005. Sovereignty Matters: Locations of Contestation and Possibility in Indigenous Struggles for Self-Determination. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. Colson, Elizabeth, 1953. The Makah Indians: A Study of an Indian Tribe in Modern American Society. Manchester, U.K.: Manchester University Press. Erikson, Patricia Pierce, 2002. Voices of a Thousand People: The Makah Cultural and Research Center. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. McMillan, Alan D, 1999. Since the Time of the Transformers: the Ancient Heritage of the Nuu-Chah-nulth, Ditidaht, and Makah. Vancouver: UBC Press. Swan, James Gilchrist, 1970. "The Indians of Cape Flattery, at the Entrance to the Strait of Fuca, Washington Territory." Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge Vol. 16, article 8. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. Townson, John. 2002. Makah whale hunt belongs in the past. Times Colonist, Victoria, Canada, p. A7. Tweedie, Ann M, 2002. Drawing Back Culture: the Makah Struggle for Repatriation. Seattle: University of Washington Press.