Simply amazing. I don't see how Alaska is allowing these magnificent animals to be killed.

I'm confused by most of what you wrote here. You don't do "save the whales" posts ... does that mean that you don't care about unstustainable factory-style whaling and Japan's attempts to hijack the IWC with landlocked nations' support?

I'm not sure who the arrogant one is here. What are indigenous people in the Arctic supposed to eat if not whales and pinnipeds?

While there is much to be said from many angles on the issue of native populations hunting whales, I think it's safe to say that Mr. Alter's condemnation of the native people as arrogant and cruel is unfair and equally arrogant.

While Mr. Alter himself may be a vegetarian (I don't know), is there a moral difference between killing 255 whales over 5 years and killing the hundreds of millions of farm animals slaughtered every year to feed the rest of us? I don't think so. By Mr. Alter's standard, I judge it arrogant and cruel to create a slave species with the sole purpose of eventually harvesting their flesh. The "majesty" or "magnificence" of a creature does not affect its moral standing, any more than it would with killing of humans of unequal beauty.

It is also entirely possible that harvesting whales is an environmentally least-destructive means of sustenance in the fragile ecosystems inhabited by Alaskan natives. Certainly, any form of agriculture or animal husbandry would have massive impact there. All told, those populations may be carving out an ecological footprint far smaller than ours, so who are we to condemn that lifestyle?

The only strong argument against controlled whale killings is one of husbandry: does this harvest damage the sustainability of whale stocks in the long term? If not, than I don't see how we can forbid their hunt while allowing our own practices to continue.

Amazing story regarding whale history and longevity but please don't confuse the Alaska Native subsistence whale hunts with the commercial whaling done by the large commercial companies or countries. Living in Alaska and observing how some Alaska Native communities depend on limited whale hunting for their livelihood and subsistence show how respectful a community can be to living sustainably.

Greenpeace was just in Anchorage for the IWC conference and they support the Alaska Native rights for subsistence whale hunts. For further stories or research please google 'alaska native subsistence whaling' or 'Alaska Native Science Commission'

I like and agree with this sentence in Lloyd's bio: 'Lloyd became convinced that we just use too much of everything- too much space, too much land, too much food, too much fuel, too much money, and that the key to sustainability is to simply use less.' I like what you are working for.

John

These whales are being killed exclusively by the Native population in Alaska. They have been doing so before they became part of the United States. Such whale hunts are ingrained in the Eskimo culture.

It's highly doubtful that they have an alternative to whales apart from importing foodstuff from thousands of miles away at much higher costs than the rest of us pay. There isn't exactly a hub of agriculture in places like Bethel. It's no surprise that since Eskimos were forced to adopt a more Western style diet that health problems like obesity, diabetes and heart disease started to increase.

Irrational as it may be, I feel that we have no right to kill something that lives longer than we do - be it a whale, tree or single-cell organism... maybe it's the same value that gives one respect for our elders.

We should not bash there lifestyle.It is traditional.I hunt deer.The meat is leaner and healthier.Beef and pork are disgusting.In taste and texture.With low tech bow and arrow.

Everyone should call the tribe at the center where they will be displaying their find from the whale they killed - just an expression of sorry, no fight, no arguing. 907-852-0422

I'm not saying its right or wrong, but I'm curious about something. Why is it that people always seem to think that just because something is part of some culture or tradition that makes right or okay? What one culture or another thinks is okay is a matter of opinion and objective. Just as the guy above thinks that beef is disgusting, that doesn't make it a fact, only an opinion. Me, I love a good beef steak or cheeseburger, but that doesn't mean I have to choose one or the other, I can like deer also. But I also think that just because a bunch of people living somewhere have been doing something for a long time doesn't make it right by default. But even that idea is just my opinion.

Hunting other animals is NOT inherently evil.

The infrastructure surrounding our current agricultural practices is extremely destructive and inhumane, however subsistence hunting using traditional hunting practices, which are generally more fair and require cultivated skills passed down from generations, instill a sense of respect for what you are hunting. When you really have to be skilled to hunt and you need to hunt to survive, you gain an appreciation for the agility or evasive abilities of what you are hunting. As well as that, you're likelier to utilize every part of your prey because hot DAMN that was a lot of effort.

Besides that, would you rather sustain oil dependence by shipping everything up there? Indigenous practices must be revived and appreciated.

Having posted above in favor of Alaska Native whaling rights I like the awareness that Coreburns post has caused for me. Your post caused me to reflect on my opinions and reactions and to see the 'big picture' on why I thinking what I'm thinking. My opinion still supports Alaska Whaling rights but thanks to your words I have a new perspective.

Just like an Alaskan Native eating and using a local whale... what is more sustainable for myself to do? Buy organic grapes flown to Alaska from Chile or to just eat local food?

Thanks for posting comments that create awareness.
John

How much packaging is used for the whale?What about transport cost? Diesel/gas-ect?Think about shipping and packaging.

I use all of the deer.Deer hide makes curtains-blankets and clothes in general.I sell and make them.No part of it is wasted.

at the risk of adding whaleblubber fuel to the fire, I will say that I am strongly in support of letting our native peoples in Canada and Alaska harvest their traditional foods, including whales. However I doubt that an Inuit fisher in a kayak with a spear can do much damage to a fifty ton, one hundred and fifty year old whale. This is not traditional fishing, this is high tech western steel hulled diesel powered modern tech taking down a fellow sentient creature.

"Much has changed since then, but clearly not our arrogance or cruelty."

Hey, life is cruel. Althogh, you probably have no idea, living a trendy metrosexual lifestyle, with your biggest moral dillema being whether you should replace your lightbulbs with "fair trade" "ethical" flouresent ones.

My first thought was in favour of allowing the innuit to hunt for thier food. It's local and if done right, sustainable. but i agree with Lloyd, also... how are they being hunted, and is it sustainable? I wonder how they hunted them before industrial methods became available?

It seems in today's day and age, there are no easy answers as far as the environment goes.

Lloyd,

You make an excellent point in response to your own thread. While the preservation and respect for indigenous, native cultures is extremely important, that does not give a blind pass to whatever practices that may include. For instance, if whale populations were on the verge of extinction, a ban on this practice would supercede "culture and tradition" (which, I recall, was what those paid to protest FOR the baby seal hunt in Canada argued). All "culture and tradition" does not and should not get a free pass in our hyper-politically correct 21st century. Also of note: while respecting native whale hunts, doing so with modernized technology separates the people from the sanctity and tradition of their rituals.

Also, to anthonares:

With regard to permitting native practices, I'm not really going to weigh in. It is probably quite true that their whaling practices are the most sustainable methods for sustenance, which in part demonstrates how they (or any native people) can live so closely and in balance with nature.

BUT, whether our Western practices of animal treatment and agriculture should end, in a sane world that question should answer itself. There is zero culture, tradition, or reverence for anything natural in Western society's treatment of animals (and by this, I mean factory farms and other subsidized monstrosities). These practices should end regardless of what the native peoples are permitted to do. It's analogous to the US government saying it won't act on climate change unless China + India were to as well. That decision should answer itself based upon countless reasons: animal, environmental and personal health and welfare, just to scratch the surface.

NB: Though I am vegan, that does not mean I am endorsing a vegan society. Simply one in which a bit of natural balance, harmony, and respect are restored.

The traditional whaling boat is made out of the skins of walrus and seals so I'm sure that would upset people too if they disregarded their more modern boats. There's just no pleasing some people.

I don't know why some people think it's perfectly okay to destroy Native American culture just so they can feel good about themselves.

For an interesting perspective and story here is an article describing whaling from a Native Whaling Captain:

http://www.mms.gov/alaska/native/rexford/rexford.htm

I believe the Native Alaskans who took this 115 year old whale use small boats manned by only several men rather than the big metal ships we see the commercial whalers use . All the local news stories in Alaska show these small aluminum/wooden craft for the hunting but I'm still looking for sources to back up my statements.

And muktuk tastes awful to me, I'd take the worst frozen tofu burger any day :)

While I'm skeptical as to whether these commentary debates actually change anyone's opinion, as someone who has lived and worked among Canada's Inuit, I should like to point out that sustainable subsistence harvesting is by far the greenest way for Northern indigenous populations to procure food.

In this case, the quota that the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission is allowing the villages to harvest is based on what the most up-to-date wildlife management science deems to be sustainable. The alternative is tons upon tons of petroleum products expended to ship generally far less healthy foods to these communities.

To correct a few assumptions made by previous commenters, yes, this kind of whaling is still carried out in small boats, and yes, Inuit did harvest large whales (bowheads, &c.) prior to European contact, though they used umiaks, not kayaks.