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Incident: Recently there has been news coverage of the Makah Indian's tradition of hunting and killing the Gray Whale, under the guise of maintaining their heritable tradition (not practiced for some 70 years) and helping Family Values of sorts. The Gray Whale is under the protection of the Endangered Species Act and not allowed to be killed. Other countries do not observe this protection. This would help prevent their extinction on this planet.

Thoughts: I believe in strong, positive traditions, ones that will help the youth of the day establish a sense of pride, well being and roots. Certainly the youth of "Today" could use a little more exposure, but that's another Thought. I guess any culture that was here the day 'before' the "Europeans, to become Americans" arrived, could claim an important 'longer heritage' and as much as we try, that won't change. It becomes less important when it comes to the killing of an endangered species, which is close to extinction - never to be seen again…. in the whole wide world… History has shown, in various ways, the self inflicted tragedies that the human species has gone through under the guise of the right thing to do or "That's the way it is done…" We, the human race, have sacrificed Vestal Virgins in offerings to the Gods, as the Gods needed this to be happy and therefore make the people happy. That's the way it is done. People, Witches, have been burned at the stake and drowned in ponds in no-win situations…. If the person comes up - they are a witch, if the person stays down in the pond, the person WAS NOT a witch… and now, thank heavens??, just a deceased person. These were all traditions that carried on for a long period of time. People believed in them, adjusted their life styles based upon the traditions, but continued on with them. The big question is.. What caused them to stop? What was the one thing that caused someone or some group to say, "…enough of the this, we're just killing innocent people..." What was the initial spark that stopped the years of traditional sacrifice… Maturity? Growth? Running out of qualified victims? How did the participants come about and decide that this is one tradition that they didn't need to continue in the cultural development of the species. They grew in spite of themselves, they continued on and now realize the tragic foolishness of it all. They've come up with new values, new traditions, and new ways to set the mark for the next generation (although the baby boomers have failed miserably, indicative by the current youth problems). They've replaced traditions that were hazardous and harmful into symbols, metaphors, ceremonies. They've retained the positive aspects of their traditions and adjusted the negative aspects to preserve the basic rights of others to live.

The Makah, in their positive quest for maintaining traditions by setting a positive role model for their youth, should be applauded for trying to do something. They should be encouraged to seek out the traditions that help define the Makah tribe as we all should do to set examples for those around us. We should find new traditions that would enhance the species, develop a sense of pride and honor, and provide a path to those that seek it. We should not be killing animals under the guise of Tradition, just as we no longer offer Vestal Virgins as sacrifices to the Gods, nor drown, burn or torture Witches because we think they are different. The Whale has done nothing but swim up and down the west coast. The tribes certainly don't need it's nourishment nor resources as they did in the past. Their lives are not based upon the skills attained in hunting the whale, they're based upon the traditions of the culture. Whether hunting a Whale or Climbing a mountain, or spending the night in a mountain hole, the goal is not the final act, it is the act unto itself. You climb the mountain to get to the top, if the top was the goal, you would helicopter up to it. You spend the night on a mountain in a hole, not to "Spend the night on a Mountain…." but to conquer your fears, self awareness, to be at one with Mother Earth. They hunt the Whale, not for the resources, but for the tradition of the hunt.

Conclusion:

If they must "Hunt" the Gray Whale with the traditional boats, harpoons and ceremonies, then let them "Tag the Whale" using the same techniques. They would in fact be returning the Great sacrifice that the Whale has given the culture in the previous generations which helped the tribe survive… Now it is time for the tribes to return the gift of sacrifice and help the whale survive - be a friend to the Whale, not participate in it's demise. Tag them for the scientific community, to help save the Whale's Culture…. Obviously one Whale don't make a difference, but it's a start… If they need to hunt and kill something, let them hunt "Jet Skiers"…..