Makah and Gray Whale
Page updated on March 29, 2010


In 1999 the United States government allowed the Makah Indian tribe from the state of Washington to take by, "traditional means", 5 Gray Whales for their own tribal consumption.  The hunt was strictly regulated, as the intent of this aboriginal hunt was to renew cultural tribal identity.  The Makah invoked their tribal treaty rights with the United States.  Considerable and extreme protest arose from conservation groups as the Gray Whale has just barely emerged as an endangered population of animals.  Whale conservationists argued that even the killing of one of these, formerly, protected marine mammals would give a clear signal to enthusiastic whale-killing countries to also invoke international aboriginal rights.  The Makah prevailed legally and did kill one gray whale.  Ultimately the animal was shot with a specially designed 50 caliber bullet.  For the Makah, the whale hunt was a success. 

I chose to commemorate the event in sculpture.  My personal feeling are that this should remain the only whale that will be taken.  Tribal identity and cohesion has been restored.  We, the other coastal people who live in California, need to know that the Gray Whale is protected from further hunting.  This beautiful, graceful and independent creature must remain a spiritual symbol of freedom and power for us.  Our care and respect has allowed this formerly endangered species to slowly repopulate it's numbers.  The trend of restoration and protection of endangered species must continue to be a priority. The feeding grounds, migration paths and calving grounds of this independent and majestic creature must have priority over man's economic interests.

The current, last updated (November 18, 2009) information on the status of the 'Makah Whale Hunt' documented by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service can be viewed as an HTML file at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Whales-Dolphins-Porpoise/Gray-Whales/Makah-Whale-Hunt.cfm

Current status requires the Makah Tribe to file for a waver of  law in order to hunt gray whale.

Apparently on September 8, 2007, five members of the Makah Indian Tribe hunted and killed a gray whale in the Straight of Juan de Fuca. This hunt was not authorized by the Makah Tribe nore was it authorized by the NOAA Fisheries Service. They Fisheries service issued a statement ending with "We shall investigate and persue this matter to the full extent of the law."  Three Tribal members pled guilty on March 27, 2008 in Tribal court. The other two members were found guilty of conspiracy in the unlawful taking of the gray whale.  The chronology of events and legal status of the whale hunt can be found at the above hyperlink. There is continued controversy and very strong feelings about the issue of Tribal killing of gray whale.

The owner of this sculpture is Paul Graham of Graham's Book and Stationery in Lake Oswego, Oregon.  The studio photograph was taken by Wes Morrissey.