I’m painfully aware that I am in no way indigenous and that through both my actions and inactions I am disastrously contributing to the decline of our biosphere. Our world is changing faster than many of us can comprehend. At the same time, my own complacence is ingrained and I find it difficult to leave my comfort zone. While I want what is best for the environment and the world community, I still enjoy my vices. While I don’t have AC in my car (or my house for that matter) I still drive nearly everywhere. Even when my office is four blocks away. (I do have to drive to clients at a moments notice, but still…)

As individuals, our actions (consumption) and our inaction (lack of vote/voice) is allowing governments and (large) business to do what they want without any regaurd their consequences. Money is king. Both for the little guy (I want cheap gas and toilet paper) and for the big guy (they want more).

In the end, even after the human race has consumed it’s way out of existence, the planet will still be here. It may not be in great shape, but it will eventually right itself and go on without us.

(sorry for being a little dis-jointed…)

I’ll try to encapsulate my thoughts as this topic is complex and difficult (for me anyway) to put down in a few words.

It has never been Indigenous peoples who have harmed populations of any species through their traditional hunting practices. As animal stocks have fallen off, however, Indigenous peoples have been the groups who have beent told they have to stop hunting or fishing. This has been done in order to allow white fishers and hunters to continue hunting and fishing until stocks have been so depleted that further harvesting is impossible.

As Indigenous peoples fight for their rights promised to them under treaties (too bad they have to fight for something given to them contractually and in exchange for a heck of a lot of land, but they do) they have begun to reconnect with the old ways. Is this an out-dated conceit or a silly idea that’s out of place in the 21st century? I don’t think so. It’s a way for them to regain pride in who they are. A pride that was striped away after years of indoctrination and abuse.

In addition, while I can’t speak for Alaska, I can speak for Canada’s North, and can say with conviction that there are serious dietary concerns for Inuit as they consume quantities of processed foods. Diabetes, dental health, and obesity have been a few of the results of eating diets high in processed sugars and flours. (Diabetes and tooth decay are far greater concerns in native communities than in the mainstream population.) As governments moved communities from traditional locations, and encouraged people to eschew hunting and fishing, health problems have become rampant. Now the government is encouraging Inuit to return to the land for sustanance. Diets high in fat — like those from whale and seal — served them well in their cold climate.

I don’t think we need to worry that small commercial businesses or self-sufficiency is going to hinder stocks or species survival. It’s the large international fleets that have done the damage — and in many cases continue to do so.

Thanks for letting me rant.

I’ll wager there may be a few remote, indigenous persons out there in the great white north who rely on whale as a primary food source – there ain’t a whole lot of biomass out there to choose from. I’m pulling this out of my ass, but there may be an energy output/input consideration for indigenous persons’ hunting habits. Puffins may make great eating, but a pain in the arse to catch in sufficient quantities. Whereas a whale may be even harder to catch, but just one or two may tide them over for a season.

But I’ll grant you their numbers (the indigenous people who actually rely on whale as a food source) are grossly out of proportion to the number of whales slaughtered. I wonder if there’s an analogy to the African ivory trade hiding in there somewhere? Either way it’s a disgrace – unless we don’t have any more honor to lose… in which case I’ll have to come up with another noun.