Makah Whale Killers Update

[panzerfaust]

Tribal prosecutor has family and business ties with the killers.

Tribal leader says "I believe it would be better for the federal and tribal government to keep this from going to trial"

So, and sadly, odds are high that this will go nowhere.

Some backstory: Saturday five men in boats killed a gray whale…

Before making reflex posts about 'treaty rights', please do a little research into what the treaty actually said.

"The right of taking fish and of whaling or sealing at usual and accustomed grounds and stations is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the United States", from Animal Liberation Front site. That is simply the first one that turned up on my search engine. The excerpted text can be found on other sites as well. I have not found the entire treaty on-line.

Other facts: The International Whaling Commission has granted a limited ‘taking’ to the Makahs, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has required the Makahs to obtain a waiver of the Marine Mammal Protection Act to whale (2002), and this has not been granted (I assume that it has been applied for).

Here are a few letters-to-the-editor ranging from condemnation (from a Native American organization), to support (from an apparent gun-guy).