It was American whalers from the northeast states who hunted whales almost to extinction in the nineteenth century. Fleets of ships scoured the seas from the Antarctic to the Bering Sea. They massacred entire families of whales in oceanic bloodbaths. They stripped the carcasses to render the whale oil and left the remains to rot. All this to light a few street lamps, stiffen corsets and make scrimshaw knickknacks.
At the same time, it was American cavalry who hunted down and massacred entire families of natives across the western states. From the Cherokee "Trail of Tears," to the Sand Creek Massacre, to the eviction and pursuit of the Nez Perce people, white Americans ethnically cleansed the West of its native population. It is no far stretch to see the similarity of circumstances forced upon Moby Dick and Chief Joseph by the same aggressors.
Nor did the Makahs escape this fate. They were bottled up on a tiny reservation, cut off from their relatives on Vancouver Island and subjected to disease, drink and dogma by white missionaries. Right of assembly at potlatch celebrations was forbidden. Native children were forcibly kidnapped to be indoctrinated in the English language, customs and dress at dormitory schools. Their parents were forbidden to see them.
Now we are in the late twentieth century. Having looted the seas and the land and choking on our own pollution, the United States has begun to embrace environmentalism. The whaling ban treaty and the IWC have been successful in giving whales a chance at a comeback. The gray whale has recovered enough to be removed from the endangered species list.
The United States has also begun to recognize and respect the treaties it has made with the Native Americans. From casinos to cigarette stores, natives have learned to profit from their treaty rights. The Makahs, however, did not seek economic advantage. They demanded only the return of their traditional whale hunt and their right of assembly for a potlatch celebration. This struck a strong chord with other native groups, many of whom sent representatives to celebrate with the Makah.
So the irony comes full circle. The greatest whale predator and greatest native exterminator must now face an international body of its own creation to plead its case for allowing the Makahs to hunt. Considering how the United States government has repeatedly manipulated treaties with its Native peoples, it will be interesting to see what it does with the commission.
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