I believe the Makah tribes should be granted the waiver to continue to hunt gray whales. In 1855, the Makah Indians signed over thousands of acres of land to the Federal Government. Whaling is very important to the Makah, so much in fact that “In 1855 when the Makah ceded thousands of acres of land to the government of the United States, they explicitly reserved their right to whale within the Treaty of Neah Bay.” When that Treaty of Neah Bay was signed the Makah, people exchanged not only their territory but also a part of their home, as a way of securing their right to hunt whale and fish. Additionally, the whaling itself is described as “subject and inspiration of Tribal songs, dances, designs, and basketry,” and the events are accompanied
