August 25, 2023

2023 Human Impact Group Blog 3

Human Blog 3: Makah Culture

Hello, this is the third blog from the human group. Here’s our group photo we took at Golden Gardens Beach.

Figure 1. Members from Human Issues Group.

Our group is trying to analyze the interaction between human and nature in the Pacific Northwest. In our third blog, we want to talk about the Makah Culture.

Introduction

On August 22, we visited The Makah Museum. The Makah Museum also known as the Makah Cultural and Research Center is an archaeological and anthropological museum on the Makah Indian reservation in Neah Bay, Washington. The museum interprets and houses 300–500-year-old artifacts recovered from the Ozette Archaeological Site. A Makah village partly buried by a mudslide at Lake Ozette around 1750, providing a snapshot of pre-contact tribal life.

Figure 2. Gate of the Makah Museum.

The museum includes historic and replica pieces and photographs related to the Makah Tribe which are on display year-round. There is a replica long house and thousands of artifacts of interest to academics and laypeople, including canoes, basketry, whaling, and fishing gear. The museum was created under the leadership of tribal chairman Edward Eugene Claplanhoo and opened in 1979, soon after the Lake Ozette site was unearthed.

Makah Element

 During our group’s visit to the museum, one of our members was captivated by the handmade artwork. We all heard the story of $3,000. But none of us has the opportunity to see these artworks. To gain insight into the cultural significance behind the artwork, we conducted a brief interview with our members to discuss their feelings about Makah culture.

Below is the written record of the interview:

 

Question 1: How did you feel after visiting the Makah Museum?

Answer 1: I felt the Maca drive because the tools and culture used by the Maca tribe are still there. Because of the whaling, I thought that the Makah traditions could be washed away by the sea, rather than by the tribes on land.

 

Question 2: We noticed that you have bought a lot of souvenirs, could you please introduce them briefly? Why do you want to purchase them?

Answer 2: The theme of this visit was the nature of Washington State and Seattle. I believe that the Makah people have been living against nature for a long time. I believe that they left behind these tools and marks to enliven their tribe and survive the harsh environment.

I chose this product because of my intuition and the feeling of the Makah tribe.

 

Question 3: What artwork do you consider as your favorite and what makes it stand out for you?

Answer 3: Of these, I think the masks are the best. There are many masks in the world. These masks carry various feelings. The masks of the Makah tribe are no different. Masks are an expression of the tribe’s feelings, and they also share their power with us today.

 

We conducted an analysis of the cultural aspects of the Makah community through examining four illustrations that are part of their artwork.

Whale:

Whales have provided Mahak people with food and valuable raw materials. Whaling is the wealth of Mahak Indian culture. The indigenous people seek the source of spiritual and ceremonial strength from the whale hunting.

Figure 3. Whale Hunter by Nytom, 2018.

Thunderbird:

Thunderbird is another common element that frequently appears in the native story and the oral traditions all along the Cascadia margin. Thunderbirds are usually said to bring storms and rain in the native stories. They create thunder by flapping their wings and shoot lightning bolts out of their eyes. To the Pacific Northwest Indian, the Thunderbird is the most powerful of all spirits. Many stories from western Vancouver Island and northern Washington use the battle between thunderbird and whale to tell the effect of earth shaking and/or tsunami (PNSN, 2023).

Figure 4. Thunderbirds by Nytom, 2010.

Wolf:

Wolf is also one of the most commonly used images in designs. The artiest who creates this artwork use the element of wolf to show the strong sense of family in the tribe (Makah Tribe, 2019)

Figure 5. Four Wolf Brothers by Nytom, 2009.

 

Makah Protection

The continuation of Makah culture faces many challenges. One example is whaling. For centuries, the Makah have revered the gray whale, not just as a source of sustenance, but as a cornerstone of their cultural and spiritual identity. Whaling ceremonies, songs, and dances have been woven into the fabric of their community for generations. To the Makah, the act of hunting a whale is more than just securing food; it is a rite of passage, a connection to their ancestors, and a manifestation of their deep respect for the natural world (Rust, 2019).

In today’s world, many sea animals are close to disappearing, and there is a growing movement to protect these majestic creatures. Environmentalists and animal rights activists argue that the gray whale populations, though currently stable, could face new threats if hunting is allowed to resume. They also point out that the tribe doesn’t need to hunt whales for food anymore because there are many other food options (Robinson, 2021).

 

However, supporters of the Makah argue that the number of whales they plan to hunt is small compared to the overall gray whale population. They believe it’s important to honor and maintain the rights and traditions of native groups, especially when these rights are protected by old agreements. Whaling shows the struggle between old traditions and modern conservation values (Robinson, 2021).

Figure 6. A poster about whale conservation in Burke Museum.

The Makah demonstrates a remarkable commitment to preserving its cultural heritage. From a national perspective, the Makah’s approach is multifaceted and comprehensive. They’ve established the Makah Cultural and Research Center (MCRC), which acts as a nexus for various cultural preservation activities, encompassing everything from safeguarding historical artifacts and promoting the fluency of the Makah language to educating both their own community and the wider public about Makah heritage. Notably, the MCRC plays a dual role: besides its central cultural mandate, it also contributes significantly to the tribe’s economy, attracting numerous visitors and researchers every year. Such strategic interplay of culture and economic prosperity is testament to the foresight of the Makah.

Another perspective is about the climate change. For the Makah and other native groups, traditional knowledge is both a connection to their past and a shield against climate change. (Chang et al., 2020). They use it to understand past environments, protect cultural assets, and develop climate solutions that respect their traditions, involving the community through traditional stories, ensuring a balance between past respect and future readiness.

Figure 7. Makah’s framework to utilize traditional knowledge within climate change adaptation planning. Retrieved from https://parks.berkeley.edu/psf/?p=1706

References

Chang, M., Kennard, H., & Nelson, L. (2020, January 6). Makah traditional knowledge and Cultural Resource Assessment: A preliminary framework to utilize traditional knowledge in climate change planning. PSF. https://parks.berkeley.edu/psf/?p=1706

Makah Tribe. (2019, April 4). Makah whaling & whale hunt – makah tribe (Neah Bay, Washington). Makah Tribe. https://makah.com/makah-tribal-info/whaling/

Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. (2023). Thunderbird and whale overview. Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. https://pnsn.org/outreach/native-american-stories/thunderbird-and-whale/thunderbird-and-whale-overview

Robinson, B. (2021, May 11). A whale of a controversy. Sierra Club. https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/whale-controversy

Rust, S. (2019, December 1). A U.S. tribe wants to resume whale hunting. should it revive this tradition?. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-12-01/whale-hunting-makah-tribe-tradition-washington-state