Inside The Mind Of A Whaler.

Although it is a clearly disputed and controversial issue, especially looked down upon by those of our own nation, there is still some coverage on Whaling coming out of the United States that does not portray it in a negative light. An article published just this week in the New York Times reflects the daily thoughts and motions of those whalers in a neutral tone.

In Barrow, Alaska it is not deer or dove hunting season, it is prime time Fall Whaling season. Loaders and forklifts are as common of sights as bows and guns to the Inupiat Eskimos that hunt these large mammals. This years season started the latest of them all on October 8, 2011. The NY times describes how the city made another record by receiving it's largest allowed quota of 22 strikes, but without any bias. According to the head of the Barrow Whaling Captains Association, Eugene Brower, “Fall whaling is for lazy whalers”. The whales migrate to the West and then down South before the brute of the Winter arrives in the Fall Season. This factor has made hunting this time of year more popular. The articles relays these facts as right out information, not shedding a negative light upon the activity.

They go on to inform us of how in the Spring, hunting is a bit more difficult as the ice has begun to thin from climate change. Because of this reason more traditional practices are executed such moving across the ice and rowing towards the whales in boats made of sealskin.

The most brow raising part of the article is how they objectively describe the rituals of the first catch of the season. When the first successful hunt of the season occurs, the people of Barrow celebrate as though it were a state fair. The whole community comes out to support, watch and execute the kill, young and old. The family and members of the crew that capture the whale are genuinely congratulated. This joyful and happy scene goes on to explain the next step in the process. Although many Americans may find it far from a celebration, the  New York Times maintains neutrality in its description. 

"By lunchtime, children were tossing rocks at the animal’s blowhole while its limp body swayed in the shore break like so much seaweed. Blood seeped through its baleen as a bulldozer dragged all 28 feet of it across the rocky beach."

Although many would find it a sight of sadness, the NY times describes it in a way that brings prosperity and happiness to Barrow, Alaska's economy. Once large machinery gets the whale out of the water, into the snow, and cut into satisfactory pieces, people immediately begin pitching in to reap it's benefits. 

The Times also brings attention to Alaska own forms of culture. Traditional Alaskan drums are made from the liver membrane of the whale. Children use the large bones of the animal as a playground. The lenses of their eyes are used to determine their age. 

Most importantly, and only within a matter of hours, the whales meat - muktuk - is divided up and offered to the townspeople. 

The muktuk is the prime advantage of the whale kill. Once a hunt as been executed, the fisherman are busy in their homes distributing the meat. This is a tradition carried on from the early 1900's when Barrow had no other source of food. People even used whale bones as the frames of their houses and as gravestones. The following video shows a brief and very interesting synopsis of the energy present in the town during whaling season: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjZqf_SUYQM

(embedding was disable by request) 

One cultural traditions are humored, the Times goes on to listen to the whalers side of the issue. The people of Barrow love these mammals because they rely so greatly on them. Although they have a need for them, they are still extinct because of their hunting, critics main point against the activity. Whalers of Alaska and other countries know the harsh feelings opposing view points have against their actions and are weary of the media in their town. Although they do not necessarily like to publicize their hunting for fear of criticism and scrutiny, they say they will never stop whaling. A candidate for mayor of the North Slope Borough, Fenton Rexford said:

“No one can stop what our fathers and forefathers have done for thousands of years. But we’re highly adaptable people. We use what tools are available to us to make life easier.”

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"With  Powerboat and Forklift, a Sacred Whale Hunt Endures"

William Yardley, New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/us/in-sacred-whale-hunt-eskimos-use-modern-tools.html

Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission

http://www.alaska-aewc.com/aboutus.asp

North Slope Borough

http://www.north-slope.org/

US: A Sacred Whale Hunt Endures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjZqf_SUYQM