I was just reminded that there’s a Native American tribe in the Pacific Northwest who managed to secure a treaty several years ago which allows them to hunt and kill whales for tribal and ceremonial purposes. After a 70 year lapse in their whale hunting rituals, the treaty with the Makah tribe allowed them to kill 5 whales per year, starting in 1999. But, as everybody knows, treaties that we make with Indians are essentially meaningless and can be revoked at any time for any reason, or for no reason. Based on what I read, the Makah were only allowed to return to their traditional whale hunting rituals for one year before they got shut down by whiny environmental groups, who claim that whales are a “superior species” to humans. Certainly cetaceans are cool and deserve to be protected from mass commercial whaling, such as the Japenese and Norwegians are said to participate in. But five whales per year seems entirely sane and sustainable to me. But then, I also think people who want to ought to be allowed to hunt. It’s a deeply ingrained and important part of the human psyche and tradition, which can’t just be wished away because some people are uncomfortable with it, or don’t understand it. In any event, here is the most elaborate description I’ve seen so far about the whole conflict over the Makah whale hunts.