Makah Whale Hunt:

Press Release

For Immediate Releae

Contact: Dr. Deborah Brosnan

Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) 503-246-5008 or 503-970-1998 http://sei.org

May 17 1999

Makah whale kill jeopardizes well-being of Tribe and efforts of those who supported the Tribe

Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) deeply regrets the actions of those Makah tribal members who today killed a gray whale. Their decision jeopardized the efforts of many people who tried to support the Makah's economic and spiritual well being.

SEI respects and supports the Treaty Rights of the Makah Tribe. In 1855 the Makah lost many of their traditional lands and freedoms. However, they kept some rights, including the option of whaling. The Tribe showed leadership in not exercising this option over the past 70 years, and had the opportunity to continue to lead the world in new pathways.

SEI seeks cooperative solutions that meet the needs of people and the environment. For the past 6 months, SEI worked with the Tribe on long term alternatives to whaling. At the request of Makah tribal members we developed support for a research effort to provide employment and new opportunities to the whaling team, and that gave educational and economic benefits for others. We had further worked with members of the Tribe to develop a long term sustainable development option that would have provided youth employment, elder care facility, and other benefits to the Tribe. Many funders committed major support to the program which would have ensured the long-term well being of the Tribe in ways that were consistent with their heritage. We are proud of our past work with other Northwest Tribes and of the mutual trust and respect that we have developed together. This trust was exploited by some members of the whaling team, who clearly misled us.

Once driven to the brink of extinction the gray whale has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. In the absence of hunting our relationship with whales has evolved: Gray Whales provide us with opportunities to learn, enjoy and wonder. Some special whales enjoy us too and seek out our companionship. Our interactions with these whales have given us new scientific knowledge and a deeper understanding of our own place in nature. This special relationship is now threatened. By resuming whale-hunting the Makah whaling team has served the purposes of commercial whaling nations who will be delighted by the precedent set at Neah Bay. SEI is deeply grateful to the many supporters who committed their help and resources, and to those members of the Makah Tribe who worked with us in good faith. The tremendous response in such difficult circumstances shows how many people wanted a fair and just solution. Sadly this opportunity was squandered.

As marine biologists our feelings are with the whale that was unnecessarily killed this morning. We are familiar with the behavior of whales. It was obvious that the animal had no fear of boats: it may have been used to approaching canoes at its birthing lagoon in Mexico. Most upsetting is to watch what happened when the whale was harpooned: it tried to avoid harm to the Makah whaling team and their canoe.

SEI remains deeply committed to finding long term and sustainable solutions to natural resource and conservation conflicts in ways that sustain natural communities and the humans that depend on them.

Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI, pronounced say) is named after the sei whale, that once symbolized a healthy marine ecosystem, and humans and nature living in harmony. Headquartered in Portland Oregon, SEI works nationally and internationally on natural resource issues.