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Inupiak's Still Whaling in Barrow, AK

December 24th 2007 13:54
In Barrow, whales are still hunted and eaten by the Inupiak, Eskimos. This bowhead whale weighed in at about 25 tons. It was processed by a whaling crew, that hunted and killed it with a harpoon bomb out of an alarmingly small craft. Once back on shore they have about a hour to process the flesh or it will self cook from its own body heat. It's brought from the waters edge to the processing area by an all terrain track lift. The old method of ice hooks, block and tackle killed and maimed many villagers until recent history; most residents have sad tales and many bear scars from those harvests.


This animal was inspected by local fish and game officials, biologists from Ilisagvik College, but the processors never flinched or slowed down their harvesting. Delays could allow the meat to spoil. The whaling captain oversees every detail of the capture, butchering and distribution of the whale flesh. Everything is used, stomach, tongue, fat layer, skin, jaw bones, intestines and baleen; all that's usually left is a blood strain that the seagulls pick through.


The animals jaw is removed once its been stripped of its baleen and flesh; the jaw bone is occasionally left for the polar bears. The tail and flukes will be allowed to ferment, and will be served at a local gathering. Beautiful baskets and other art is made from the polished baleen. The jawbones were used in the roof structure of traditional sod homes. The only wood available to the Inupiak Eskimos, was drift wood or that wood salvaged from trading, ship wrecks or abandoned in ice flows. BTW, Alaskan Eskimos did not live in igloos.


In under an hour, this animal had been processed, distributed and partially eaten. The scraps were few and nothing wasted. The flesh will be stored underground in natural freezers carved out of the permafrost; the only flesh that will be stored in them will be whale meat to avoid cross contamination.

Those villagers lucky enough to be the recipient of the whale meat pick it up with snow machines pulling sleds; they still keep dogs and train them to pull sleds. But the modern work horse, and utility vehicle is the snow machine, they use it to hunt, shop, travel and for play.


Many of the locals, especially the elder Inupiaks with health problems, benefit greatly from the annual infusion of whale meat back into their diets. The impact of the whale in their diet is profound and quickly apparent as the results are very visible by their renewed vigor and energy.




The affair looks savage and it may be to those unfamiliar with these grand people, but considering that our modern diets of wheat based prepared foods, breads and cereals, sugary colas and alcohol literally kills these folks. You can appreciate that their digestive system is not fully acclimated to a modern diet. And bear in mind, these hardy arctic dwellers don't necessarily rule supreme in their domain, it isn't uncommon for crew members to be killed during the hunt, falling over board in arctic waters is a sure way to freeze, and quickly. And then there are the polar bears.

Raven

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Comments
17 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Damo

December 27th 2007 02:39
I say Butler peel me another Whale would you.

Intersting post

Comment by tlcorbin

December 27th 2007 13:03
Your, "Butler peel me another Whale .. ," is my command, Damo.

The story was a counterpoint to some blogs about the Japanese whaling industry, there appears to be little reason for anyone to eat whale in the mindsets of most of those authors; ah, then we have the indigenous occupants of the arctic whose dietary systems have yet to adjust to the 19th century cuisine, let alone the 20th.

How do they fit into the equation, without seeing for myself the dramatic influence of whale in their diet, I may have been on the other side of this matter. Raven

Comment by Anonymous

October 21st 2008 08:42
whaling is cruel, stop it or i will kill you

Comment by Anonymous

October 21st 2008 08:44
i will rip you to pieces like you do to the whales

Comment by Anonymous

October 21st 2008 08:45
i know where you live

Comment by Dawson Etel

May 21st 2009 06:02
OH MY GOD STOP HUNTING THE WHALES-- IT'S NOT NICE AND WHAT IF YOU WERE THE WHALE?
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE HUNTED.

STOP HUNTING.

Comment by Nevar

May 21st 2009 07:00


Is Why
Obviously, you've never eaten whale, it's rich and tasty. If you'd actually read the story you'd know that I don't hunt or fish for whale(s).

Comment by Anonymous

June 4th 2009 04:10
since Inuits have been hunting and eating whales for a few thousand years, and are still whales around they obviously do not hurt the perpetuation of the whale's race. if you care about the whales, do something about the water they're damning up in cali so the salmon cant make the run cause there is no water in the rivers and so many many many many whales don't have the rich fatty fishes that they need desperately to survive.

Comment by Nevar

June 4th 2009 05:33


Is Why
Anon,

The humpback whales hunted by the Inuit's are largely krill eaters.

California needs to solve it's fresh water problems; most are contaminated by the time the waters reach the ocean or are blocked by poorly designed dams.

The major predators of whales is man, and the truth is, we don't need to hunt them anymore. Whales that hunt salmon also feed on other fish species, not just salmon.

Comment by Anonymous

June 13th 2009 05:48
Teets.

Comment by Anonymous

June 13th 2009 05:48
Teets.

Comment by Anonymous

July 16th 2009 04:39
Quick correction Nevar, those are Bowhead Whales. Related to Humpbacks, but not any more a Humpback Whale than a Blue Whale is one.

It's incredible what the biologists involved during the hunt have learned. Firstly, the Bowhead may be the oldest Mammal on earth. One analysis found a very young looking bowhead to actually be 211 years old!

Also, due to what they eat, pollution is very low in their systems, unlike Sea Lions or Polar Bears in the same regions.

Also, after initial estimates were argued by the Inupiak people, some newer populations estimates were actually double the original number! The Bowhead, though lower in population than pre-whaling (approx. 24, 900 from 50,000) their population is stil strong, and actually increasing yearly.

Due to this, the Inupiak were granted to continue their traditional practise of old way hunting. I have spoken to some Inupiaks who have said the old methods are still used, and that Harpoon bombs are considered by both them and the US goverment as illegal and not needed. They agree that modern tools would make it safer, and they have begun to use some modern technology for safety reasons.. they still prefer the old ways.

Comment by Nevar

July 16th 2009 06:20


Is Why
Ah, Anonymous, you are so right, evidently I wrote Humpback thinking Bowhead, but I confess to the error.

This is a first; a truly knowledgeable commenter, what a delightful twist ~ thank you very much for reading this and for the correction.

Comment by Anonymous

July 16th 2009 06:40
No worries, I teach primitive living skills professionally and I'm from Canada, so Northern cultures and their environments mean a lot to me.

In several of the healthy Bowheads that were hunted recently by Natives and Inupiaks, they've discovered ivory and flint harpoon blades that date back well over two centuries.. it's been shocking a lot of biologists!

Comment by Nevar

July 16th 2009 07:10


Is Why
We had similar items reported in Barrow and it raised a few eyebrows to say the least.

Do we have an operational NW Passage yet?

Just curious.

Primitive living skills; at the rate the US is bankrupting itself, we may all be in need of primitive living refresher courses.

Sounds like a great profession, Anonymous.

Comment by Anonymous

July 16th 2009 07:47
Meh, if I don't get paid I just take myself on a course anyways and get my meal and roof over my head lol.

No northwest passage yet, though Russia is trying damned hard.

To me.. any old skills are important, from any culture. Even if someone doesn't believe in Global Warming, or another depression, or whatever most environmentally minded people will offer as good reasons. The ability to keep yourself fed, clothed AND save some money? C'mon, who can argue that?

Comment by Nevar

July 16th 2009 08:08


Is Why
Truly, when all else fails, the basics always work, they may not be pretty, but they do work, Anonymous.

I guess that explains why I feel safe in AK, I know it'll kill me if I ever take this place for granted; and I can live with that.

South of the Canadian/US border and I am never able to relax . . . to many unstable people that'll kill you with autos and regulations.

Well, I'm off to bed, the missus is fussing at me to pack it in and it's time for the Coast2Coastam radio show . . . I'll respond again later. G'nite.

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