Makah leaders hopeful after Washington meetings

Thursday, September 13, 2007  

Leaders of the Makah Nation were cautiously optimistic after meeting with lawmakers and Bush administration officials in Washington, D.C.

The tribe wanted to assure lawmakers and officials that it condemned the illegal hunt that took place on Saturday. The tribe is vowing to punish the five tribal members who were involved.

The tribe also wanted to discuss its pending permit to hunt whales. After meeting with the director of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Micah McCarty, a tribal council member, said the illegal hunt doesn't appear to have hurt the tribe's standing.

The tribe has a treaty right to hunt whales. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the tribe must seek a waiver under the Marine Mammals Protection Act to continue hunting.

Get the Story:
Makah leaders optimistic after D.C. meetings (The Seattle Times 9/13)
Makah Tribe vows to punish whale killers (Hearst Newspapers 9/13)
Tribe apologizes to lawmakers for whale shooting (AP 9/13)
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Relevant Documents:
Tribal Council Statement | Makah Tribal Whale Hunt | Marine Mammal Protection Act

Court Decisions:
Anderson v. Evans (June 7, 2004) | Anderson v. Evans (December 20, 2002)

Relevant Links:
Makah Nation - http://www.makah.com

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