The Maca Indian tribe has won permission to hunt whales in the US for the first time since 1999 through a court decision. This was reported by The Washington Post (WP). On June 13, the "Maka" tribe received a long-awaited permit that allows them to capture up to 25 gray whales living in the northeast Pacific Ocean over the next 10 years.
However, the indigenous people of North America will be prohibited from killing more than three whales per year. The population of this animal species numbers about 20,000 individuals.
Whaling has traditionally been important to Maca and remained at a high level until the 1920s, when the whale population plummeted. However, the maca manages to hunt whales from time to time, the last time this happened was in 1999, but in 2000 the US authorities officially banned the capture of animals. Only 25 years later, the Makah regained this historic right.
„Whaling remains central to the identity, culture, existence and spirituality of the "Maca" people. and we hold the gray whale sacred,” — said Tribal Council Chairman Timothy J. Green – senior.
Earlier, on March 28, the king of indigenous New Zealanders called for equal rights for humans and whales. He signed the declaration called "Whakaputanga Moana" (ocean protection). According to him, it is proposed to recognize the presence of personality in whales, to protect them as a species and to give them legal personality. The declaration states that whales share an affinity with indigenous peoples, possessing a spiritual essence and life force.