Whaling Culture Celebrates Revival by David Wiwchar Southern Region Reporter
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t. ,o R. t\I .42_ o albi i 1h-Sa l Serving Nuu- chah -nulth -aht for more than 25 years Canadian Publications Mail VOL. 26- 11 - Product NO. June 3, 1999 haasÍ Sales tsa "Interesting News" Agreement No.467510 Whaling Culture Celebrates Revival By David Wiwchar Southern Region Reporter Monday, May 17, 1999. 6:55 am. "Back to Tradition" More than 3000 people crowded the shores of Neah Bay on Victoria Day weekend to add their voices of support for the Makah Whale Hunt and sample a West Coast dietary staple untasted for 70 years. More than 3000 people crowded the shores of Neah Bay on Victoria Day weekend to add their voices of support for the Makah Whale Hunt and sample a West Coast dietary staple untasted for 70 years. From Anacla to Africa, and all points in- between, representatives from hundreds of indigenous cultures congratulated the Makah Whaling Crew, and welcomed their guest of honour to day that will be forever marked in First Nation's history. Hundreds of people began the weekend celebration with a parade starting from the Makah Museum, down the beach -side road to the Elder's Centre for the ceremonial Makah Harpooner Theron Parker adjusts the harpoon, prior to the start of the Neah Bay Parade. raising of the United States and Makah Nation flags. Leading the parade was the day's Thousands Enjoy Makah Traditional Feast central figures; 36 -year old harpooner Nuu -chah -nulth guests were in atten- oysters. Makah men filled a large sandpit Theron Parker and the Makah By Denise Ambrose dance to partake in what, for most, with hot coals topped with shellfish. whaling crew aboard their 40' foot Central Region Reporter would be their first taste of whale meat. They steamed 11001b. of clams and canoe 'Hummingbird', towed behind Makah received their name from neigh- 4001b. of oysters this way. The aroma of a 5 -tonne army -surplus transport Makah Nation treated thousands of boring tribes. 'Makah' means truck. their guests to a traditional meal of 'generous steamed clams wafted all the way to the salmon, halibut and whale meat on with food'. They could not have had a gymnasium and they were eaten up in a more fitting name on their day of celebra- matter of minutes. Sporting a new tattoo of a May 22. They were celebrating the tion as each and every guest was served traditional whale harpoon, resurrected tradition of whaling. a heaping plate of seafood. Dinner songs This was the first time that I would woven cedar-bark rope and seal were sung, thanking the Creator for all A few hundred Nuu -chah -nulth taste whale meat, a food that I, as a skin float on his bare chest, that we were being offered. guests were in attendance to Nuu -chah -nulth person, should Theron smiled, waved, and There were so many people that feasting partake in what, for most, would have been brought up on. thanked every voice in the was done in shifts. The tables and be their first taste of whale bleachers were full. At the same time crowd that shouted their con- Those of us that stayed in the gym meat. people were lined up around the gymna- gratulations. waiting for whale meat missed out on the sium and out the door. More people shellfish feast. It was worth it all in the At least 3000 guests arrived from as were milling around outside. Sporting a new tattoo of a traditional end when I was offered a handful of far north as Alaska and as far south Guests waiting for seats were invited to continued on page 10 as the Fiji Islands. A few hundred a nearby beach for steamed clams and continued on page 10 a INSIDE: POSTAGE PAID IN Makah invites NCN to Neah Bay Page 3 PORT ALBERNI, B.C. 41118;"I'P Tim Paul unveils new piece Page 5 DreamCatcher ' 99 Page 9 The Spirit of the Whale Page 12 NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA NEWSPAPERS DIV. 1: Nuu -chah -nulth UBC Grads Page 19 395 WELLINGTON ST. NEDC news Page 24 OTTAWA, ON K1A ON4 i '1 Ha -Sit Ith -ha, lane 3, 1999 - Page 3 Page 2 - Mo- 51110h -Sea - June 3, 1999 Makah Whale Hunt Dominates Northern Region Treaty Managers Ha -Shi Ith -Sa newspaper is pub- LETTERS & KLECOS Iished by the Nutt- chah -nulth Ho- Sh,lth -Su will include letters received from its readers. All letters NCN Treaty Planning Talks Workshop must Weighed by the writer and have the writer's name, address phone number Tribal Council for distribution to & By Denise Ambrose the members of the fourteen Moo on it. Names can be withheld by request. Central Region Reponer -n By Louise Awns chah -nuhh First Nations es well Wereservetherighttoeditsubmittedmaterialforclariry ,brevity, gram- Northern region Reponer as other interested groups and in- mar and good taste. We will definitely not publish letters dealing with tribal define -NCN Treaty negotiators nice viduals. or personal disputes or issues that are critical of Nua- chah -aNb teak May 20 -21 to plan for upcoming treaty The Northern Region (NR) held an Information & original work Muds or groups. negotiations. invitational two -day workshop in contained in this newspaper is All opinions expressed in letters to the editor are purely those of the writer The highlight of the two -day talks Tsaxana in the Council of Chiefs and may be re- and not necessarily with or copyright not will coincide the views pollees of the vuu -cMlt- however, was the Makah Nation whale chambers. produced without written Per- Thbd Council or its member First Nations. cold: hunt. Makah whalers harpooned There was 2 U2 days planed, but from mission whale on the roaming of May 17. other meetings needed NR representa- Nuu- chah -nulth Tribal Council Treaty negotiators congratulated byes. Treaty Managers. Chief, Coun- P.O. Box 1383, Pon Alberni, Makah Nation and expressed their cils, and administrators were the focus B.C. V9Y 7M2. Ipj!T feelings about the making ofha of the scheduled meeting. Northern Telephone: (250) 724 -5757 3Sbi. In describing his joy about the suc- Region Co- Chair, Archie Little attended Fax: (250) 723 -0463 mane whale hunt, Chief Mike both sessions. Printed at the Niemen. said, -Vic offer Makah our Ron Frank of Shelterwood is a land 11a= congratulations. This is a spiritual selection technical advisor to three Alberni Volley Times Shilth1Sa 4°1 John and Michael McCarty of Neah Bay invite delegates from the of SUBSCRIPTIONS Ha- Shihh -Sa Nowspaper, in conjunction with Tsawaayucs (Rainbow Gardens), wish awakening for it gives us back our Treaty Planning table to Neah Bay for the weekend celebration. The four First Nations. Ron chaired the to celebrate the Intematlonal Year of sense of identity" Ile also gave thanks meetings. $25.00 per year in Canada & the Older Person, by highlighting hunt whales," they explained. was a highly technical explanation of to the whale 'for giving itself to the The agendaage da had 14 items for discus - 83500/year U.S.A. and foreign Nuu -shah -nulth Wen. and the wonderful roles they play in our Ines. Michael McCarty pointed out the the Nisga'a title to their treaty lands. It world'. 'on purposes with. addition of countries. Payable to Nice- Irwin would like to suggest a Feature Elder, tall Ha- Shilth-Sa at (750) 724 -5757. hypocrisy of non -native society; 'They left more questions than answers for Ira tonal yea. of P.nm Angry about the negative publicity, fisheries items. Coke issues were chah -Lomb Tribal Council. a.. came here so that they may enjoy NCN negotiators. It was finally George Watts said, "Its colonialism all discussed Roger Dunlop, Nuu -chah- freedom of religion. Hunting is decided that more research into the over again. They're trying to put the Whales nulth Tribal Council Fisheries Biologist Editor -Manager, Southern part of our religion and now we are issue was required before firm deci- last nail in the coffin of our identity. introduced Paul Smith , e new worker Feature Elder: Tom Albert Jones being condemned for it." Ile added urns could be made. Region Reporter We are proud to be Nut- shah -ninth In the arts. that the only reason the Makah have not David Wiwchar By Dennis Bill in the logging industry. He said that it and never want to lose it. They want A background paper described Smith's hunted whale for 70 years was so that The Northern Region First (250) 7245757 Editorial Assistant was really easy for them. get jobs us to go back to the old ways of our position and the rationale alit, purpose the depleted whale stocks could rebuild. Nations brought forth an issue RfRaóardrslana net and as a result a lot of people went to culture but they took it away. Their in the Northern Region area. Many people don't realize how fast the the United States to get better paying greed is what stopped the whale hunt. dealing with rehabilitation of Paul Smith introduced the RAMS Office Manager Angry about the negative world changes They lined their and almost lands disturbed resource stewardship coordinator plan. First Annie Watts however Tom Albert jobs and with the knowledge Mat they pockets by wiped out the whale Now publicity, George Watts said, "/ts Nations identified specific areas of hashilth@lslandast Jones has sea many changes take were the best riggers in the industry. populations. extraction. place. Throughout his life he has He sad he never went into fishing they are saying 'How dare these colonialism all over again.