Preview

Me, Myself, and I

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
771 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Me, Myself, and I
To: Steve Stone Date: Oct. 1, 2008

NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region

1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100

Portland, OR 97232

From: Wren Lynberg

Re: Makah Request for Waiver of MMPA Moratorium

Dear Mr. Stone,

After carefully reviewing the available background information on the Makah Indian Tribe’s request for a waiver of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) moratorium against hunting of gray whales, I believe that the waiver by the Makah peoples should be approved. I agree with the Makah Tribe’s position that their treaty rights, granted to them in the Treaty of Neah Bay (1855), should take precedence over more recently enacted legislation by the United States. Although the treaty should take precedence over the MMPA requirements, the Makah Tribe is making a good faith effort to comply with the federally mandated requirements of the Act.

The Makah Indian Tribe has a long history (at least 1500 years) of whaling in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. This cultural identity is evidenced in their daily life, as well as in substantial archeological material at the Cape Ozette and West Point archeological sites. This whaling culture was so important to the Makah Tribe that they were the only U.S. tribe to insist that they maintained whaling rights and this language was included in their treaty. The tribe is planning on using the whale products exclusively among the tribe members; there is no intent to sell the products for profit. Whaling is, and has always been, integral to these people and these cultural needs should be respected and not held hostage as the U.S. government asserts its political clout over “modern day” business interests. The Makah have already been granted approval from the International Whaling Commission to maintain a subsistence level of whaling for the tribe-specified in the Waiver Request as 20 whales over 5 years and no more than 5 whales per year.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Trial court stated that “due to changes subsequent to the sighing of the treaty, the trial court found that the treaty had no longer existed and convicted Marshell” (McGaw, 1), the trial court clearly states that the due the changes of level of fishes in the sea that the treaty is no longer valid. When the case had appealed to supreme the court “the treaty rights remained, with limits. The court concluded that this right meant an entitlement to a “moderate livelihood, which “includes such basis as ‘food, clothing, and housing, supplemented by a few accumulation of wealth” (McGaw, 1). The Supreme Court states that the Mi’kmaq tribes have the right to fish offseason as long as they are able to support themselves, while not overfishing to the point of personal interest and wealth. The Mi’kmaq tribe also has the right to fish offseason for tribal ceremonies, and…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Oregon Ballot Measure 81

    • 1827 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Oregon ballot measure 81 prohibits commercial non-tribal fishing with gillnets in Oregon “inland waters”, allows use of seine nets. This ballot measure’s proposed changes to state law are not based on science and proper fish management but on emotions and the economic benefits of one group over another. The Columbia River salmon are a natural resource that plays a role in the local economy, local culture and greatly into local Native American culture. The total number of “native” or “wild fish” allowed to be harvested would not change as it is set by the Columbia River Compact. Voting no on this ballot measure is what every Oregonian should do when voting this November.…

    • 1827 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    On Friday, The California State Legislature approved a historic bill that banned the breeding of captive killer whales and orca performances in the state, the only exception would be for educational purposes and not entertainment, display, or performance purposes. The bill also prohibits the export or collect captive orcas coming from any place in California to another state or country, unless approved by federal law, and importing their semen or embryos of any orcas held in captivity for artificial insemination. The legislation passed 26-13 with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposing. The bill required that the killer whales be sent to sea sanctuaries for retirement in the United States or Canada. Sea World are actively lobbying against the bill, calling it unnecessary since they had already planned to do this and had announced…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although regulated by laws, the tribe retained their tradition values and maintained their tribal autonomy as they continue to govern themselves through tradition. Within duty, justice plays a key role in the in the re-established hunting process. The justice system in this scenario protect all parties involved. The hunters are protected by laws allowing the hunt, The whales are protected by limiting the number of kills allowed, and the environmentalists are protected under personal liberties and guaranteed…

    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bloody Ice Analysis

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “Bloody Ice” is an essay arguing against the mass slaughter of Harp Seals. The author reveals the legal limits for the amount of seals allowed to be killed each year as stated by the U.S. Seal Protection Act and pleads for the further reduction of those limits. The passage argues that the inevitable extinction of the animals and the inhumane methods by which they are killed are cause for severe regulations on seal hunting. In the conclusion of the paper, it is suggested that ranching the seals would reduce impact on seal population and cut down dependency on the seal industry. The essay starts off well, but generally lacks in persuasively arguing its point and is therefore ineffective as a whole.…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The documentary, The Cove, is a film which demonstrates the cruelty and abuse done to the Dolphins, held captive in a Japanese Lagoon. After, discovering more about the intelligence, advancement and innocence the dolphins possess, I began to agree more with Ric O’Barry argument that dolphins should not be hunted in Japan and the world.…

    • 575 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The problem with offering money is that some ranchers have accepted it, but used that money to pay hunters to kill as many wolves as possible (nytimes, 2011). Ranchers do not believe that it is necessary to keep wolf populations as high as they are (nytimes, 2011). The fourth article discussed how the court was going to uphold Congress’s act to remove the wolf from the endangered species list (latimes, 2012). The main viewpoints are the agencies that support Congress’s decision to take the wolf off the list versus the environmental groups (latimes, 2012). The environmental groups were arguing that the rider that Congress issued in 2011 was a violation of the separation of powers doctrine (latimes, 2012). However, it was revealed that the separation of powers doctrine was not violated and that states should still get the rights to determine wolf population numbers (latimes, 2012). In the fifth article, state governments versus environmental groups are the main viewpoints (nytimes, 2013). State governments believe that they are the most competent to make decisions about the future of wolves (nytimes, 2013). Reports indicate that wolf populations remain…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whaling has been a Japanese tradition, which goes back to prehistoric times, so Japan has a strong historical connection with the sea as a source of food. But there are other countries that used to have such a connection to the sea as well, for example France and the US. Those countries ‘set sail’ to whaling or limited their whale hunts when the IWC put a ban on commercial whaling back in 1986. So Japan has no traditional reason to keep up the whale hunt. A country cannot, or may not keep up something like this just because it is a tradition.…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    makah whaling

    • 351 Words
    • 1 Page

    Whale hunting has been a way of life for the Makah Tribe for more than 1500 years.” There only of living depended on the whale meat to survive. To them Whaling wasn’t just to hunt and eat it was much more than that it was like a symbol of hope for them. They used the whales for other purposes such as, blubber and oil. The need on whale hunting has affected the whale to be an important part of the Makah culture. “The whale is in their songs, dances, designs and basketry.” It has given them a supporter and power in their tribe. -- Editorial, the Seattle Times states “The Makah tribe is troubled in many ways. Over 70 percent unemployment [and] drug and alcohol addiction plagues many tribal members living on the North Olympic Peninsula.” This is why; I’m in support of the Makah to hunt whales. Another editor of The New York Times states, “The Makah’s should continue on their path of renewing tradition in the face of fanatical, irrational opposition. Protecting the last vestiges of Native American culture from extinction is as important as protecting a whale species from extinction.” From this we can see that without whale hunting the Makah’s have nothing to live for. Therefore, I’m in support of the Makah to…

    • 351 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In todays day in age, there are many American issues that seem to be on a never ending vicious circle. A recent American dilemma is the debate about keeping killer whales in captivity. Although retaining these majestic creatures may provide statistics and data for scientists and present entertainment for the public, others have very dissimilar views on this riveting situation. Orcas have been captured and retained in captivity for over fifty years. Whether it be for entertaining the public or allowing scientific studies to be made, many people do not agree with this way of treatment to cetaceans.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The activity of hunting wild animals for food has long been a practice of man. It is what we as humans survived off for thousands of years. An instinctual need to pursue game is still alive in many of us. Unfortunately, those who choose to fulfill this instinct are generally condemned for their actions. Now this may not seem to be such a serious deal, but I assure you there is much more to this situation than first meets the eye. The topic of hunting is very significant because it not only affects hunter’s rights, but it affects landscape, funding wildlife preservation, and tradition.…

    • 1317 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is a worldwide organisation accountable for regulations on whaling. Under the guidance of this organisation, its member countries meet annually on a regular basis and discuss issues regarding whaling (IWC 2011). After long-term discussions, Japan’s whaling practices have been restricted, and Japan is currently only allowed to perform whaling in the name of research in the northwestern Pacific and the Antarctic. (Morikawa 2009:5). Since this commercial whaling moratorium, Japan strives for the ‘’resumption of whaling based on research and scientific surveys’’ (ibid., p.3). A couple of significant facts suggest that Japan’s stated argument is a smokescreen to hide income–based motives. This essay will question Japan’s pro-whaling argument, the right to conduct whaling as a historical and traditional practice, and argue whether it is well founded to justify the practice of commercial whaling. The Japanese pro-whaling policies debatable nature will be presented from three main aspects – cultural, environmental and monetary.…

    • 2215 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    me myself and I

    • 1314 Words
    • 14 Pages

    essays that both cite key pieces of evidence from the documents and draw on outside knowledge of the period.…

    • 1314 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Me and Mysdelf

    • 653 Words
    • 3 Pages

    evenings; AL will play on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Summer Baseball will be made up mostly of games. There may be an…

    • 653 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    With the Bill of Rights, these animals would be able to live in better condition and have a better lifestyle. It would not be fair to them since humanity invaded their land when they were there to begin with. There are killer whales…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays