For the first time in nearly 30 years, Aklavik, N.W.T., hunters can harvest a bowhead

Thomas D'Arcy McGee

Thomas D'Arcy McGee

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For the first time in nearly 30 years, Aklavik, N.W.T., hunters can harvest a bowhead whale

Hunt to take place this summer after permit was approved earlier this month

CBC News · Posted: Jun 07, 2024 7:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 7

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/for-the-first-time-in-nearly-30-years-aklavik-n-w-t-hunters-can-harvest-a-bowhead-whale-1.7228943

For the first time in almost three decades, a bowhead whale will be harvested in the Northwest Territories.

Hunters in Aklavik, N.W.T., will make the catch, and the whale meat will be distributed to Inuvialuit and Gwich'in communities in the region.

Community members in Alkavik first had the idea to apply for a permit about a year ago, and were granted permission at the beginning of June, said Herb Nakimayak, a member of the Fisheries Joint Management Committee.

"This is Inuvialuit practicing and continuing our way of life and passing on tradition and knowledge while the expertise is still in the region," he said.

Nakimayak said that conservation of the species is important to the Inuvialuit and they are planning carefully to make sure there's little to no part of the whale that is wasted. They are also taking steps to gather scientific data on the whale that they catch.

"This is actually quite a big celebration in the region, because we are utilizing our land claims … Keeping ourselves accountable as well as Canada," he said.

The last time a bowhead whale was hunted in Aklavik was in 1996, said Gerald Inglangasuk, also a member of the committee.

Bowhead whales, sometimes referred to as the Greenland right whales, weigh more than 60,000 kilograms.

"That's a big whale, eh?" Inglangasuk said.

"With a bowhead, it takes a lot more than a weekend, it's easy to shoot it. The hard part is butchering it and sharing it, that's another tradition we're going to do, sharing."

Nakimayak said that a plan for all parts of the hunt, including the sharing, will be completed before the hunt takes place.
 
Thomas D'Arcy McGee said:
It will be hard for Canada to advise Japan to stop hunting whales when we hunt bowhead and beluga whales in Canada!
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Canadians make no pretense of science around killing whales the way Japan does. Joe Six-Pack hunter in the south can't apply for a whale licence. As the story explains the hunt is 100% culturally specific to First Nations. There is never any discussion of natural predations on toothed whales in the arctic when the polynyas freeze or shift.
 
A good idea. Despite all the outright hate for the Indigenous people on this site, I think the people connected to this hunt will do alright.
 
Hollow Point said:
Someone needs to do a "catch and cook" video of the whale hunt. that would be cool to see.
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Why, it will be published on TV when the hunt takes place and there will be protestors to record it for future generations.
Besides there are videos on yoo toob with the hunting and killing of Narwhal in the North, type it in doesnt take long.
I'm only speculating the circus round this hunt will be like the Macaw Band back in 1999 when they harpooned a Gray Whale and finished it with two shots from a .50 Cal.
I recall a few elders who said it gave them the trotts, a different Century different story to be told.
All the power to the People of the North and their traditional ways.
 
FLHTCUI said:
Why, it will be published on TV when the hunt takes place and there will be protestors to record it for future generations.
Besides there are videos on yoo toob with the hunting and killing of Narwhal in the North, type it in doesnt take long.
I'm only speculating the circus round this hunt will be like the Macaw Band back in 1999 when they harpooned a Gray Whale and finished it with two shots from a .50 Cal.
I recall a few elders who said it gave them the trotts, a different Century different story to be told.
All the power to the People of the North and their traditional ways.
Click to expand...
Didn't they also dance on dead.whale? That seemed disrespectful but maybe it was traditional.

I think They also towed their traditional boat out and back with the Whale with a modern motor powered boat.

It didn't seem very traditional.
 
I wouldn't want to be in the Arctic Ocean water in anything resembling a traditional boat with an injured whale. They can hunt it with as modern as equipment as they want. It would be incredible to see someone harpoon a whale from a canoe, but I'm not expecting anyone to risk their life for the sake of "this is how they did it two hundred years ago."

Edit: Random thought. Finishing it off with a .50 seems like a pretty humane way to go about it.
 
I believe it was an air powered 50 cal that was used in that hunt.

I went along on one indigenous hunt for elk using spotlights. Back in the day they used torches for night hunting and this was the modern equivalent. Or something like that. But I respected how they used it, we could have shot lots that night, instead we came home with nothing because they had only intended to shoot one specific bull and we didn't find it
 
My thought was, with no hunting in 30 yrs, who has health and experience. Nothing truly good comes of this. Protestors if they succeed, commentators from places with supermarkets if they fail. Good chance with the inexperienced hunters, someone gets hurt. A five hour flight from real help.
 
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