Be Careful!
In Alaska subsistence is under fire. That's because subsistence for
Native alaskans includes the cultural element while for non-Natives it
does not!
Can you see the political advantages for non-Natives for seperating
cultural considerations from subsistence?
By the way, I think it is very telling that most if not all the major
environmental groups (like Sierra Club) do not have formal policy
positions on the rights of indigenous people--anywhere.
Ed Barker
On Wed, 26 May 1999, Steven Bissell wrote:
> Thanks for the sites Jim. I was pleased to see that at least several of the
> ethical issues have figured in the development of the policy. As constrasted
> with the current debate by the International Whaling Commission, who want to
> exclude anyone with differing opinions from the discussion, it is a breath
> of fresh air.
>
> And, I agree, this is a good example that hunting has more cultural
> signifigance than subsistance.
> sb
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Tantillo <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 11:01 AM
> Subject: Re: Whaling and Native Americans
>
>
>
> >Boy, I thought the list would be a-blaze with this. We've been discussing
> >the merits and dis-merits of hunting for the past month. At least some
> >listers have expressed the opinion that "traditional" Native Americans had
> >some sort of moral ascendency in regard to hunting. Now these pesky
> >Traditional Native Americans have gone out and kill a Sacred Cow of
> >Environmentalism, the Whale. In this case a young female. Lots of debate
> >going back and forth about this elsewhere, but not on this list.
> >
> >I'm not adverse to raising thorney issues, so IMO the debate herein seems
> >a bit of a red-herring, or is this too many aquatic metaphors? The
> >attached article seems to lament this killing of whales for three reasons;
> >1) Firstly -- and I believe most importantly -- the U.S. has compromised
> >its leadership on whaling. 2) The larger problem isn't about quantity but
> >quality. >From the beginning, the danger lay in the possibility that the
> >compromise could become precedent. After all, we are all just as qualified
> >as the Makah to resume hunting: we all have a history of whaling and none
> >of us needs it. and 3) The third problem is philosophical. Whaling, and
> >the efforts to stop it, have entered a new phase. From the IWC's point of
> >view, this may be merely a period of idle sparring while "stocks" recover.
> >To them, whaling is still fishing, and the moratorium is "resource
> >management." Those opposed to whaling view whales as too sentient to
> >slaughter.
> >
> >1. I'm not sure what a "compromised" leadership means. Is it important to
> >remain a leader even if there is no longer a policy issue at stake.
> >
> >2. I agree, from a shallow viewpoint this is correct. However, the Makah
> >also have a "legal" right as codified in their treaty with the US
> >Government, and, as I understand it, they are the *only* tribe with such
> >rights.
> >
> >3. What on Earth is "too sentient"? Is this more of that utilitarian
> >stuff? Are whales more deserving of moral agency than dogs and cats?
> >
> >Anyway, I have to run. Hope someone looks at this besides me.
> >Bissell
> >
> ><http://www.enn.com/features/1999/05/052499/makah_3341.asp>http://www.enn.c
> om/f
> >eatures/1999/05/052499/makah_3341.asp
>
>
> Steve,
>
> I have been following this issue fairly closely now for some time. It
> seems to me that the arguments advanced on behalf of the Makah hunters are
> very similar to the lines of reasoning I have been pursuing re: sport
> hunting--i.e. that since the Makah can't really claim that they are whaling
> primarily for subsistence purposes, they are justified in doing so for
> other culturally important reasons. These include their rights to
> self-determination and to the perpetuation/revival of their cultural
> traditions.
>
> What's also interesting in the Makah case is the vehemence of the protests
> against the tribe and the hunters. . . .
>
> The Makah's own web page on the hunt is a good place to start if folks are
> interested in this issue:
> http://www.makah.com/whales.htm ; also
> http://conbio.rice.edu/nae/docs/makaheditorial.html
>
> Jim Tantillo
>
>
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|