An anniversary

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===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list =====

 

FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE

-----------------------------

 

SEKIU, WA: 8:02am PDT

 

One year ago. It's almost hard to believe that at this time one year ago, we

all watched in horror as the United States rejoined the pirate whaling

nations of the world.

 

One year ago this morning, Makah whalers slaughtered a juvenile female gray

whale in the waters of a federal Marine Sanctuary- she came right up to the

whaling canoe, expecting a friendly hand. Instead, she received a cold

harpoon and a multitude of blasts from an anti-tank gun.

 

The fight continues. A year of research and education is under our belts,

our resolve is as strong as ever to end this hunt, and with the generosity

and efforts of people just like you, we will.

 

We will prevail. With the truth on our side, the outcome was never in doubt,

only the length of time it takes to rid our shores of this evil.

*****

 

 

 

FROM PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

---------------

One-year anniversary of whale kill expected to pass quietly

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

By Austin Ramzy

 

One year ago today Makah hunters harpooned and shot a gray whale, their

first outing for the creature for most of a century. The date stands out in

the sweep of Makah tribal history -- May 17, 1999.

 

There will be no formal events to mark the anniversary, said Keith Johnson,

president of the Makah Whaling Commission. " It's just down in the history

books, the first whale since 70 years ago,'' Johnson said.

 

The date stands in more than history books. It can be seen emblazoned on

caps and shirts in Neah Bay. " The town's still the same, just some of us

feel a lot more proud now,'' said Wayne Johnson, who captained the chase

boat during last year's hunt. ``I've been talking about it for the past

couple of days,'' he said. ``One year ago we executed our treaty right and

helped secure it. I'm kind of proud. A couple of other families are carrying

it on now.''

 

The Paul Parker family has spent six days hunting on the water this spring.

Twice their harpoon has come close to a whale, but they have not yet killed

one. A 10-day hunt permit ran out just before midnight Tuesday. Whaling crew

members have declined to give interviews until the hunt is completed.

 

" They've been hanging in there pretty good. They must be learning something

every day, just like we did last year,'' said Wayne Johnson.

 

Protesters mark day

Whaling protesters, their ranks thinned over last year, plan to take to the

water to mark the date. " (It) is the anniversary of the killing of the

young,'' said Bill Moss of the World Whale Police, who was charged with

violating the Coast Guard's 1,500-foot moving exclusionary zone in

connection with a protest last month.

 

" I'm thinking we're going to celebrate it by a having a few words over the

place where the animal was killed and design a wreath of kelp to mourn the

anniversary of the death, assuming we're not in the moving exclusionary zone

at the time, of course.''

 

Media attention reduced

The global attention that was focused on last year's hunt has faded, Keith

Johnson said. ``The media attention has been significantly reduced,'' he

said. ``Last year we had different countries' news crews coming out to

witness this and film.'' Now, a handful of Seattle reporters are heading to

Neah Bay to mark the anniversary.

 

The hunters have changed in a year, too. Last year's hunt was done by a

community-wide crew. This year, traditional whaling families are carrying

out the hunt. In addition to the Paul Parker family, five families have

expressed interest in hunting.

 

Wayne Johnson's family counts itself among the group. ``There was a lot of

stress for a couple years there. We're finally starting to feel good about

things,'' he said. ``I'm glad four or five families are carrying on with

this whaling thing.'' Wayne Johnson counts the whaling songs -- some ages

old, some just written -- that are being sung as one of the cultural boons

of the hunt. " You'll probably be hearing some when the next whale gets

landed, which shouldn't be too long.''

*****

 

 

 

FROM WORLD WHALE POLICE

-----------------

 

May 17th is the anniversary of the death of the whale

taken by the hands of Makah hunters last year. The weather is expected to

be good and tonight is the full moon. These are all bad indicators for gray

whales here off the Makah reservation. We expect that they will make

another attempt to kill a whale tomorrow.

 

As you know from my posting a few days ago, the migration is all but done

leaving only a few straggling calves with their mothers and resident whales.

Although the management plan prohibits the whalers from hunting these

whales, it does not appear that NMFS cares or is willing to even access the

status of the migration. We have heard

from a very good source within NMFS that they are now allowing their

representatives to go out to do the assessment until the hunt is complete.

This is backwards: the migration status must be determined to end the hunt,

not after the fact.

 

Please continue to send your letters to NMFS to ask them to halt the hunt

until the status of the migration and the remaining whales has been done.

 

We are getting our boat back from the Coast Guard tomorrow and as soon as we

can do the necessary repairs to make it seaworthy again, (as you probably

recall it was rammed twice by the Coast Guard one month ago) we will be back

out on the water saving whales. So far the work of the activists on the

water has been successful.

 

Thank you to all of you who have helped out with donations for this

campaign. We are still in need of fuel and repair funds. If you can help

out at all, please contact us at this e-mail address, by phone at

(360)963-0717 or by mail at P.O. Box 94, Sekiu, Washington, 98381.

 

Julie & Bill

 

PS. Please say your prayers, or whatever your ritual is, to

remember the whale that died one year ago and for the protection for the

whales that are living here now.

*****

 

 

 

BEST QUOTE OF MAY, 1999

---------------------

" Whalers suck. "

Don Munson (PCPW), as he was being led away from a roadblock protest near

Neah Bay.

 

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