Spirits of Our Whaling Ancestors: Revitalizing Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth Traditions

by Charlotte Coté, Micah McCarty (Foreword)

Following the removal of the gray whale from the Endangered Species list in 1994, the Makah tribe of northwest Washington State announced that they would revive their whale hunts; their relatives, the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation of British Columbia, shortly followed suit. Neither tribe had exercised their right to whale - in the case of the Makah, a right affirmed in their 1855 treaty with the federal government - since the gray whale had been hunted nearly to extinction by commercial whalers in the 1920s. The Makah whale hunt of 1999 was an event of international significance, connected to the worldwide struggle for aboriginal sovereignty and to the broader discourses of environmental sustainability, treaty rights, human rights, and animal rights. It was met with enthusiastic support and vehement opposition.

As a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, Charlotte Cote offers a valuable perspective on the issues surrounding indigenous whaling, past and present. Whaling served important social, economic, and ritual functions that have been at the core of Makah and Nuu-chahnulth societies throughout their histories. Even as Native societies faced disease epidemics and federal policies that undermined their cultures, they remained connected to their traditions. The revival of whaling has implications for the physical, mental, and spiritual health of these Native communities today, Cote asserts. Whaling, she says, “defines who we are as a people.”

Her analysis includes major Native studies and contemporary Native rights issues, and addresses environmentalism, animal rights activism, anti-treaty conservatism, and the public’s expectations about what it means to be “Indian.” These thoughtful critiques are intertwined with the author’s personal reflections, family stories, and information from indigenous, anthropological, and historical sources to provide a bridge between cultures.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, History, Anthropology, Theory, Read For School, Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

Reviews

[Siggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and very informative book on the history of whaling in the Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth nations up until modern times. Definitely took me a while to read because it's not a story. However, I was very invested. A great read to decolonize one's thoughts on hunting a majestic creature to preserve a Nation's sense of self, spirtuality, and health.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an informing and compelling read about Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth subsistence whaling 🤯

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, although written by an academic, was very approachable. I appreciated the author's intimate connection to the topic and her openness in sharing some of her own stories as well as those from other Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth tribal members. It definitely whet my appetite for learning more about the 1st Peoples of the Pacific Northwest, as well as my own family's connection to them and this place. (see U.S. vs Winans 1905).

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard one to rate for me, because it accomplishes something that I was not expecting while also veering away from the expected. Let me explain--

I picked this book up for dissertation work, hoping to get a lot of in-depth information about the 1999 Makah whaling event where, after many years of not using their treaty right to whale, the Makah decided to hunt a grey whale after they were removed from the Endangered Species list. While this information exists in this book, it certainly is not the only discussion in the book. There is one chapter dedicated to oral tradition and place naming, which help explain that whales are culturally significant for the Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth, but at the same time this is not what I thought the focus was going to be on.

So, on one hand I thought there was a good chunk (maybe half) of text that was good, relevant, and explanatory--but not on what I (or the back cover) thought was going to be there. In this sense, I felt like some of what I read was not what I was in need of at the moment for my dissertation work. In that sense, I would give it a 3-star rating for going "off topic" at times, or approaching the topic in a way that I did not necessarily expect.

But on the other hand, even the information I don't need right this second for my purposes is really good information. Thus, I decided this is actually a 4-star book if you go into it without needing only certain information. The scholarship is good, mixing both Western methodology with Indigenous Knowledge, which I appreciated. A quick read, also.

[Veronika Pohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirits of Our Whaling Ancestors: Revitalizing Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth Traditions by Charlotte Coté is a compelling and insightful read that I really liked. As required reading for my Native American Religions class in college, it provided an in-depth exploration of the rich whaling traditions of the Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth peoples. Coté’s work is both scholarly and engaging, shedding light on the cultural revival and significance of these traditions in contemporary times. The book offers a profound understanding of how these communities are revitalizing their ancestral practices and preserving their heritage. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in indigenous traditions and cultural preservation, though its academic focus might be less accessible to those unfamiliar with the subject. Overall, it’s a highly recommended read for its depth, relevance, and respectful portrayal of these vital cultural practices.

[Sara Sulser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely an academic book, but I read it over and over again. For non-fiction is very engaging. The legends and history of the Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth tribes cut through the entire book and are beautifully written. The subject matter is controversial, but never preachy. I challenge anyone to read this and not find themselves questioning their previous assumptions about native american whaling.