Makah Whale Hunters

The Makah Tribe is back in the news as the National Marine Fisheries Service attempts to balance tribal rights with environmental considerations. At issue is whether the Makah can continue their traditional practice of hunting gray whales.  A 1998 court decision allowed the Makah to resume whaling after a 70 year hiatus, but a year ago, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal agency may have prejudiced its environmental assessment of the practice by approving a hunt management plan before completing the assessment. Last month, at a public hearing on the completed environmental assessment, government scientists argued that the gray whale population of about 26,000 would not be affected by the Makah's whale hunting practice.

• Bitter Words Ring Out at Whaling Hearing Seattle Times
• Public Hearing on Makah Whale Hunt Brings Out Opposition Seattle Post Intelligencer
• Public Hearing to Focus on Makah Whaling Seattle Post Intelligencer
• Welcome to the Makah Nation Tribal web site
• Makah Management Plan For Makah Treaty Gray Whale Hunting For The Years 1998-2002 Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
• The Makah Whale Hunt (Native Americans and the Environment) Center for Conservation Biology Network