Thursday October 8, 2009, 10:44 am
On Tuesday around noon, Panigeo crew struck a whale. Pauyuuraq Brower of Barrow shot the whale with the darting gun. Then Paul Patkotak, 9-year-old son of Maria & Ellis Patkotak, harpooned the bowhead whale and officially killed the whale.

Paul is a 4th grader at Ipalook Elementary School & is very into his culture. He loves to go whaling with his uncle Qulliuq Pebley, who is the Captian of Panigeo Crew, he loves to go subsistance hunting and camping. The family was overjoyed in tears when they heard that their 9-year-old Paul harpooned the 32' 7" whale.

This is big news for Barrow, usually kids are not allowed on the boat until they are a certain age. I think Paul is the youngest kid to actually harpoon & kill a bowhead whale.

Once they arrived & beached the whale, the family was overjoyed. His mother could not believe that her son actually caught the whale.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 11:30 am
Disgusting!!!! How something so little can be so destructive. Humans sometimes really seem to be monsters.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 11:42 am
How could such a dreadful thing happen. Poor whale and poor kid. He will never forget the terrible act he did. Thank you Claudia, for this distressing news.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 11:57 am
Not happy about this at all parents teaching their children early to kill kill kill sick sick sick!!
Thanks Claudia

Thursday October 8, 2009, 12:27 pm
Can't believe that,once its harpooned its officially dead and its that size....i dont think so!!

Thursday October 8, 2009, 2:10 pm
Parenting FAIL

Thursday October 8, 2009, 3:05 pm
I'm sure that the wahle wasn't thrilled! By the time my kids were 9 there was absolutely no way that they would have hurt any animal deliberately. No child should learn to hurt another life.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 3:25 pm
Boy I bet hes proud of hisself the little maggot...

Big Gorilly Hugs

Thursday October 8, 2009, 3:47 pm
Pobre chico, ¿cómo hará para crecer en la vida, para llegar a sentir lo maravillosa que puede llegar a ser?
Pobre ballena, que deja para siempre y sin retorno esta vida maravillosa.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 3:54 pm
Eh???

Big Goirlly Hugs

Thursday October 8, 2009, 4:45 pm
what a thing to be proud of. they should all hang their heads in shame.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 5:18 pm
Absolutely disgusting............he will never learn compassion for humans or animals with parenting such as he is receiving.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 5:52 pm
what a horrible thing to teach a child,with any luck this kid will grow up and realise what a terrible thing it is to kill! Real Sad.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 7:27 pm
This is appalling!!! Is this the future of the human race???

Thursday October 8, 2009, 8:13 pm
Is it my imagination -- or does this young, so-called harpoonist wannabe look very sad... as if he's not into following into the cruel footsteps his family wants him to take???? Simply awful.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 8:40 pm
So sad to see parents approving of such a tragedy.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 9:13 pm
Horrific! I don't know what else to say....

Thursday October 8, 2009, 9:46 pm
This is sick what is becoming of seciety if u kill and innicant defencless animal u take its head as a trophie the day of today is not only more and more Barbaric but its more sick eveyday

Thursday October 8, 2009, 9:57 pm
The comments on the original source are applauding the boy for what he did. We belong to a culture that abhors whale killing, and the boy comes from a culture that endorses it. It's almost like we belong to different worlds.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 10:26 pm
Good for him for learning how to provide for his family and community.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 11:09 pm
Living 'on the land' has been the means of survival 'inherent' in indigenous peoples...hunting and fishing ... it's their way of life and their culture! Yes of course i am saddened that this whale was killed in a 'barbaric' way... but harpooning has been their way ... their tradition.
I can understand the parents pride in their son ... as Sir Walk F. says he is learning how to provide for his family and community and at a young age!
BUT THIS DOES NOT LESSEN THE SADNESS I/WE FEEL THAT THIS GREAT AND WONDERFUL BUDDHA BEING WAS TAKEN!
Native people say that an animal gives itself as a Blessing... MAY THIS "GIVE AWAY" BE ENOUGH TO LAST THEM FOR THE ENTIRE WINTER!

Thursday October 8, 2009, 11:51 pm
Please,this is so disgusting!Do you see something wrong with that picture?What a proud little murderer.Makes mom and dad so proud.They even took a picture with the bloody corpse.I wonder if they would feel the same way if it was a bloody human corpse?Let's save the whales.These people can buy their food for the winter at the store.

Thursday October 8, 2009, 11:56 pm
I am horrified that this kid is subjected to this kinda killing at such a young age... this hardens them to the fact that it is okay to kill... perhaps this will lead onto more serious harm against the environment... He is a little punk and makes me so angry... as they say the sins of the father go down to the third and fourth generation.. this is a classic example...

Friday October 9, 2009, 2:16 am
Sick & Sad. Disgusted. Thanks

Friday October 9, 2009, 2:50 am
Just amazing....

Friday October 9, 2009, 3:06 am
If it was my son, I would not be proud at all. Thanks goodness, I taught my children values in life.

Friday October 9, 2009, 4:11 am
i cant see anything to be proud !imagine teaching a child to kill

Friday October 9, 2009, 5:48 am
I'm thankful my sons love the creatures. Thanks Claudia.

Friday October 9, 2009, 6:21 am
sickening........

Friday October 9, 2009, 6:54 am
Wow, kiss your mom with that mouth, Iam R.?

Friday October 9, 2009, 8:07 am
"Once he harpooned it, it officially died."...." - No mention of exactly HOW LONG it took the poor whale to die as it suffered from its injuries. Native peoples are always saying they have respect for the life they take. There's no respect in taking a photograph of a mutilated corpse, and posing in front of it as if it's a trophy. That's NOT respect. Sickening.

Friday October 9, 2009, 8:18 am
This is awful & the fact that this young boy was given praise is just as horrible as the action. I understand it's a family business but really such joy at this whales expense. It's a painful thought.

Friday October 9, 2009, 8:43 am
He's in Alaska - doesn't that tell us all?!?!?!?!

OK so it's their tradition. Tradition is fine & well - but at his age.

If he was my son I would not be a proud mother that's for sure.

Disappointing to say the least.

Friday October 9, 2009, 9:22 am
The following concepts are important to consider: sociology, culture, culture shock, ethnocentrism.

Friday October 9, 2009, 11:05 am
Eeew...wrong on so many levels.

If any here attempt to use the "it's our culture" excuse to hide behind, remember this: Merely because something is a custom or tradition doesn't make it moral, good or beneficial for all involved. As such, it's incumbent upon cultures and societies to recognize this and eliminate these kinds of activities and replace them with new, better ones that DO benefit all involved.

There isn't a moral justification that can be offered for this whatsoever. The only excuse people hide behind is "my culture, my culture." Would any "culture" claim raping women during warfare as part of their culture? No? Then what's the difference here?

Think about it.

Friday October 9, 2009, 12:31 pm
:0(

Friday October 9, 2009, 2:25 pm
These people just don't get it. This is the same mentality that makes the whole world hate and make fun of Palin! Plus, that is why Obama won by a landslide and why he is getting the Nobel Peace prize. They don't have a clue on what decent humans act like! They are not capable to comprehend how sick and twisted it is the ecourage a child to murder one of God's creature's. They are still in the dark ages. I pray that this child will someday get a clue and realize what horrible morals his parents are teaching him. I am just so glad to live in a safe suburb 10 mins from downtown Chicago and I don't have to worry about my 5 year old being influenced by people that think like this! Even the cops slow down for the squirels crossing the street around here. I also hope with all of my heart that someday soon Alaska will get some proper respect for all life and get out of the dark ages and see the light!

Friday October 9, 2009, 2:44 pm
That is so sad and distressing.
This little bastard should really be ashamed of himself...

Friday October 9, 2009, 2:52 pm
This is very sickening and sad. i hope he realizes what harm he has done to that poor animal! The kid does upset though, the idiot!

Friday October 9, 2009, 3:38 pm
I am so sad that this child is being taught that such cruelty is acceptable and even laudable! I'm sure he would not be proud of himself if he knew how much suffering he caused that poor creature - and for what?

Friday October 9, 2009, 4:36 pm
Noted...But many of you presumed that this is a trophy hunt. Thie is their way of life, and cruelty is not their intention nor their reasoning. These people live over 1/2 the year in darkness, and you don't have a garden or a local grocery store to run to for your meals.
They live off of the land and the sea....so please do not condemn a people for their way of life, and their passing it down to their future generations.,

There is no urban sprawl, no shopping malls or strip malls.......

Read and learn how a small community can be good, and use your openmindedness.....


Barrow News and Announcements
http://www.americantowns.com/ct/fairfield/news/earthtalk-green-ways-to-keep-groundhogs-and-others-away-220110


I had thought that people would have an open mind about a peoples culture, history and way of life in their Native home.
But you all need to learn about an Alaskan Native way of life in the great Artic North before you condemn.
The writer here did not give any care or concern to these peoples way of life, and a culture and it's people need to be respected.
This is not trophy hunt, this is their way of life your so quick to condemn, and if you don;t walk in their shoes, you don't have a right to judge.

Friday October 9, 2009, 4:59 pm
I agree that hunting whales, even by First Nations, should not happen. That said, I think that some care must be taken to understand First Nations and their culture, (what remains of it after the European genocide of their people and culture, stealing and abuse of their children, etc.....).In Alaska the First Nations people, that Palin et al still call 'Eskimo' not Inuit, are dying from starvation, freezing to death because of literally rotting houses supplied to them by the 'system'. IF they have Elders to teach them how to survive, they are lucky. They must hunt. But that is a far cry from the 'whale' hunts set up by young members of tribes that are far from their roots...In spite of what has been said, the poorest people, the ones with highest maternal/infant death, highest unemployment (like 85 PERCENT) life expectancy among the lowest in the world, soon to be forcibly vaccinated with an unsafe, even dangerous vaccine against their will, are these, the First Nations from whom anyone else in North America, (Turtle Island) has stolen land, customs, LIFE and health (poisoning their water with runoff from Uranium mines - on Native land!!) and on and on. Some CARE (get it) must be taken before castigating them, calling 9 year old children bastard, and all the other name calling happening here. Take care, or you will become like those that you profess to hate.....

Friday October 9, 2009, 5:01 pm
Not too many vegetarians in Alaska. These people are the ultimate locovoirs. They eat or use every part of this whale. Check out this article from the same site. http://community.adn.com/adn/node/143830
There was very little tooth decay among native people here until flour and sugar were introduced into their diet.

Friday October 9, 2009, 5:26 pm
Even though they use all or almost all of it, Still sad that this is what the boy is learning. Why was he on the boat anyway. This is the USA and he probably should have been in school and learning about this instead of beciming the news. He is may know how to kill but I doubt he really knows his multiplcation tables or all his spelling words. There is no way that while he is away that he would be learning what he should if he was in school where he should have been.

Friday October 9, 2009, 6:03 pm
Ah yes...we have the weekend drunk poser troll.
Please don't let the door hit you in the backside on the way out.

You have given me the right to place your name to your identity here where you can't post a civilized word.
Get off to all the other websites you've been kicked off of.

I ahve sent your information off to
Care 2 Network.
Next will be to your local authorities.

Friday October 9, 2009, 6:31 pm
Boy, that's starting them young! Makes me sad!!!
Tx Claudia
You cannot currently send a star to Wolfweeps because you have done so within the last week.

Friday October 9, 2009, 7:07 pm
Another article you should read and the last bit of the ICC booklet from 1977.
http://www.adn.com/arctic-alaska/story/951984.html

http://www.ebenhopson.com/icc/ICCBooklet.html

They do give kids days off from school even in Alaska This is the Elementary School he attends
http://www.nsbsd.org/schools/ipk

These people are proud of their culture... hunting and fishing is part of it. Probably won't Change your mind, but some of the comments were ignorant and uninformed just had to put my 2 cents in. Most people don't even read the site article before commenting on these. let alone do any follow up research. just knee jerk reaction no thought.

Friday October 9, 2009, 7:33 pm
Thank you for those that made a conscience choice to learn about my neighbors to the north,
These people are wonderful people whose culture has been hard fought to keep. When big oil took over they were elbowed aside...kicked to the ground and robbed of their dignity. They struggle each day to keep their sacred heritage, and deserve to be respected for who they are.
I love animals, I fight passionately for them, and my battle for the wolves will follow me to my grave.

I want people to understand that Alaska is a huge state. It has a rich history in each of it's native clans.
They have been treated like second class citizens in their own communities by people who come here to sick the oil rich wealth. Greed brings terrible people into yout community, and each clan fights hard to maintain their culture, and their tradition. You can see the look in many natives eyes when you look at them, and see their response in reaction to your gaze. They expect the white mistreatment, judement and see the pain in their expression as they move on about their business.
Like the lower 48 states, the natives here have suffered at the hands of white mans greed for oil and money. It is wrong that this type of racism is still at work in this day and age. But it is alive and well with judgement and criticism from the reporter that wrote this story, yet they did not share the way of life in which these pople have a right to live.

Friday October 9, 2009, 8:05 pm
"These people can buy their food for the winter at the store." Another racist comment. Yes, we have made it so that indigenous people must now even eat when and where, and what we tell them to.
I have been reading these comments,and I can't believe my eyes. The number of times this boy has been called an idiot, or an asshole, or worse, is unbelievable. Yes, he killed a whale. No, I don't believe that he should have done so, but what do you know about his culture, and the background behind his actions? This is mob talk, and I am shocked.

Friday October 9, 2009, 8:19 pm
Thing is we are fighting hard to save ALL the whales...NONE should be killed. There other ways to supply people with food. Us Native Americans have had to adapt why not them???? We cannot go forth and kill buffalo or deer anymore so what right is it to keep taking whales when eveyone knows they are such peril???? You ought to see our reservations here very bad and very ugly....

Goirlly

Friday October 9, 2009, 8:20 pm
Thing is we are fighting hard to save ALL the whales...NONE should be killed. There other ways to supply people with food. Us Native Americans have had to adapt why not them???? We cannot go forth and kill buffalo or deer anymore so what right is it to keep taking whales when eveyone knows they are such peril???? You ought to see our reservations here very bad and very ugly....

Goirlly

Friday October 9, 2009, 9:47 pm
I am shocked at the knee jerk reaction of those that

have NOT WALKED IN ANOTHER PEOPLES

CULTURE, NOT LIVED AS THEY HAVE LIVED, AND

EXPERIENCED WHAT MY NEIGHBORS... MY OWN

BROTHERS AND SISTER HAVE EXPERIENCED.

It is one thing to sit among your own daily lives in the

life style you have been raised in and become

accustomed to, and sit in judgement of any other race,

a people, a religion so different from your own. You

come from a world of convience, a car with gas in your

tank. A short walk to a corner store to buy what you

"want". Hell..even a taxi or a city bus... Warm clothes,

coats & boots, and year round electricity for all your

worldly comforts that you so easy accumulate

throughout a life time. You have telephone service 24/7.

Television, a home phone, snacks to munch on when

you get such a craving for.

You live in light at least 12 hours a day, and don't have

to plug your vehicle into a long extension cord to a

ready available plug in so you can have your vehicle

start when need to go anywhere in the weather that is

at subzero at -60 degrees below zero.

You can take your pet out for a leisurely walk when

ever you want, and not worry if you and your

companion animal are up to the sheering winds that

drop the temp another - 20 degrees just stepping out

your front door. You don't have to wrap your animal's

feet in insulated covering just to go outside to take a

whiz, and have their animals poop freeze in the space

of 5 minutes.

This is not about animal cruelty, this is about

survival. You have np clue to their culture and respect

of wildlife that exist on, and how much they appreciate

nature and its beauty & uniqueness. You know nothing

about them at all....
You want a people you have never met..that DO NOT

HAVE A SINGLE CONVIENCE THAT YOU TAKE

FOR GRANTED, THAT YOU SO DEMAND TO BEND

TO YOUR ACCEPTABLE WAY TO SURVIVAL?

Then fork over the money for the $5.00 a gallon for gas.

fork over the $7.00 a gallon diesel to heat your home

for 6+ months out of the year. Fork over the added

shipping cost for fuel, for every single item that is

ADDED TO COST WHEN IT IS shipped into your

community for daily, basic survival.
Fork over the cost of living here just so they can fit

into your way of life.
How easy it is to demand that another human being

bend to your view of the world just because YOU

demand it to be so. Enjoy the city life where convience

is there at the drop of a hat.
Is a gallon of milk $10.00 a gallon where you live? Can

you pay for the diesel fuel to heat your home for an

entire winter, and not sit down with the heart breaking

choice of what comes first? Do you spend the money for

fuel to keep your home warm, or spend the money for a

400 mile trip on a plane to a doctor ? Can you afford

the medicine, or the food for the rest of the week?

These are the decisions so many of you in the lower 48

do not even have to consider. You think health

insurance is a struggle? Try deciding how to pay for

gas, heating oil, or medicine?

I beg any one of you to please come up here in the wilds

of Alaska, live through a winter for over 6 months

when it is dark for 20 hours a day, and second the sun

does come up on a clear day...the temp drops another

-15 to -20 degrees.
So when you complain about a cloudy day....we hope it

is overcast so it will insulate us a wee bit and not drop

the temp another -20 degrees.

You have lost compassion along with your argument

with arrogance. Is this caring, compassion and caring?

Is this bend or we will break you? Become acceptable

or we will degrade you with words and name calling?

Name calling of a child no less? I am am pained in my

soul at this tpe of cruel reaction of a story...that tells

you nothing about the people it is about. How deeply

sad this is.....

I am shocked and frankly stupified by the painful

words of people I thought I knew..and from those that

have not a clue of the way of life in their very own

state of Alaska. We are a part of United States....It

just makes it more evident that when you can't

live....learn or even have the desire to learn about those

you share a nation with....how smallmindedness has

come into the United States. The selfish disregard of

those who are so different than yourself. It is like

kicking a blind dog that has so arrogantly wandered

into your own personal view of the world.

You think life is hard for you all in the lower 48? Try

living here.....Now I expect that you would like us to

accommodate you in that regard as well? Not likely.

I thought that the world was getting a bit kinder.
Evidently.....I was seriously mistaken......
My heart is broken at the cruelty and unkindness here.
For if you can not have compassion in your heart for

those that are so different than you.....I will stick to
my native ways....run with my familiar wolfpack...run
with my native brothers and sisters...for we are so far
from the same world....for we wolves run with our
brother & sisters for companionship and survival.

Friday October 9, 2009, 11:50 pm
Have skimmed through many of these comments. The language and sexual innuendo, bashing is totally inappropriate.
Has anyone noticed that these are native Alaskans, and their culture and heritage revolves around hunting a whale for food and utilization of the "whole" whale. This is not hunting for sport and wastage.

Friday October 9, 2009, 11:57 pm
Are you that 4th grader INTERNET PRICK ?
Don't come talking to me about a country's culture.This is about saving endangered species.
You even realise that the oceans health is most vital for the planets health and there for yours ?
No,don't think so
And what are these cultures,so called traditions teaching those children ???
Eat mercury contaminated whale meat,good for your health ???
They are poisening their own children.How ignorant can you be???
Even now the Japanese scientists agree that by eating dolphin meat,is dangerous for your health,FINALLY,some are waking up !
But ok,there are stillignorant people around,who don't give a damn,don't understand really,lack of education?
Internet isfull of info,i suggest you'd do some reading about mercury contaminated whale/dolphin/fish meat !!!!

Saturday October 10, 2009, 12:15 am
@ Whaler B or is it Whaler wanna B again ?
The profile you are looking for could not be found
Clearly very weak and sad to hide your profile.
Just follow my advise...Be Gone !!! If you don't have the desency or intelligence to submit appropiate comments.You can defend your belief in a appropiate matter.But then again,i know you,don't i !!!

Saturday October 10, 2009, 12:16 am
@ Whaler B or is it Whaler wanna B again ?
The profile you are looking for could not be found
Clearly very weak and sad to hide your profile.
Just follow my advise...Be Gone !!! If you don't have the desency or intelligence to submit appropiate comments.You can defend your belief in a appropiate matter.But then again,i know you,don't i !!!

Saturday October 10, 2009, 12:52 am
Whilst there is need and merit in First Nations culture towards the harvesting of animals and the non wasteful use of the whole animal, I can'y help thinking certain right wing politicians have latched on to subsustance hunting as a bandwagon to beat those who care about animal and human rights generally! The Inuit in particular seem to have been the"Human Shield" behind which commercial hunters are hiding. The all conquering whiteman has much to answer for and the fact that the First Nations are treated used and abused in much the same way as Hitler treated Gypsys and Jews 70 years ago is even more deplorable as it is still going on! Fortunately in the UK nobody needs to starve or go with out healthcare contary to the nonsense propagated by some of the more irresponsible oponents of the Presidents Healthcare plans. When America makes this bold move towards civilisation the First Nations will not have to either continue or resort to their ancient traditions to survive! The white man caused the problem and it's possible that a black man may solve it despite the opposition of a racist right wing who appear to have thrown their toys out of the pram in contempt of their lost election. Until that time much against my own animal welfare views the First Nations should not be condemned for being imprisoned in a white man's uncaring society and therefore having to survive as best they can. Anyone who disagrees with my sentiment might like to try living on some of those "Reservations" which are notheing more than concentration camps by another name suspended in time while the whiteman rides by in his Hummer! I think my views are well enough known in the field of killing for fun and the moral distinction between First Nations trapped in a timewarp of the whitemans making! However abhorent killing is aboriginals do it for need, not ego, trophy or self agrandisement and the reported activity that this thresd is related to is to the participants a milestone that I believe has been seized upon by the right to justify the wider abuses in hunting generally by tagging it to an ancient lifestyle! However when there is no need to hunt for subsistance I shall renew my criticism of any hunting! As to the contamination by mercury whilst this well known in all sea food along with much other undesirable pollutants they First Nations would appear to have a choice of eat the bounty of the sea or starve! The Japanese who eat whale and dolphin make an informed choice to eat firstly the meat and secondly the contamination! That is the difference ie the Japanese or any other nation that has afree choice does not have to further the abuse of whale or subject themselves to the contamination! As for internet info probably not too esy with no electricity or the electricity cut off for not being able to pay the electricity company!

Saturday October 10, 2009, 1:27 am
It is sad to read comments from intolerant posters who think the the multiplication tables should be more important to this child than his national heritage. Of course the death of this magnificent creature is sad, but it cannot be compared with commercial whaling or trophy hunting. Please read an intersting background piece at:
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/2622

Saturday October 10, 2009, 2:18 am
Claudia, the trolls invariably hide their profiles or they would not be trolls! Well said Wolfweeps Pommawolf. Michelle G it's not so much sexual iinuendo as ignorance lack of education and poor vocabulary! Clearly some of the posters feel threatened by lucid commentary and informed debate or their arguments and comments would be rational and measured!

Saturday October 10, 2009, 3:13 am
Thanks Claudia!

Was going to just say noted with falling tears.

Thank scrolled down through all of some of these comments and I have to say a couple of these comments about made me fall off my chair onto the floor in shock.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 4:08 am
This is absolutely horrible. His parents have failed and a long time ago. This mislead kid thinks he is making his family proud. This is so not good...
My heart go's out to our finned friend.
Very sorry Claudia

Saturday October 10, 2009, 4:52 am
ANTI-ACTIVIST IMBECILES BE WARNED, GET OUT OF CARE2 OR BE BUMRUSHED OUT OK...YOURE BREAKING CARE RULES N REGULATIONS...AND WATCH UR CRUDE LANGUAGE THERE ARE LADIES IN THIS FORUM, CASE DISMISSED...

Saturday October 10, 2009, 6:16 am
"Commercial whaling, the principal cause of the population decline, has been discontinued. The population off Alaska has increased since commercial whaling ceased. Alaska Natives continue to kill small numbers of Bowhead Whales in subsistence hunts each year. This level of killing (25–40 animals annually) is not expected to affect the population's recovery. The Bowhead Whale population off Alaska's coast (also called the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort stock) appears to be recovering but remains at about 10,500 animals (2001). The status of the other Bowhead populations is less well known. There are about 1,200 Bowheads off West Greenland (2006), while the Spitsbergen Bowhead population may only number in the tens.

In March, 2008, Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans stated that previous estimates of the Bowhead population in the Eastern Arctic had undercounted the number of whales in the region, with a new estimate of 14,400 animals (r. 4,800-43,000).[12] These larger numbers would correspond to the estimates of the whale population before whaling, indicating that this population has recovered. However, some supporters of climate change could argue that with more breaking up of sea ice Bowhead whales could be threatened by increased shipping traffic".
"Sea Shepherd; the gray whales the Makah Tribe occasionally kills aren't so mercurial. Grays forage much lower on the food chain—little sedimentary crustaceans called amphipods—than dolphins, which favor high-mercury squid and bottom fish. And diet is a main determinant, along with longevity, of how much mercury and other "bio-accumulative toxins" animals store. John Stein, conservation director at the federal Northwest Fisheries Center, says gray-whale livers have shown less than one-half part per million of mercury. Likewise those of another giant, the copepod-eating bowheads that some Alaskan natives hunt."
Take the time to check out the facts. Wiki and News article several long documents out there. I don't like the wholesale killing of any species including humans.But the language here is uncalled for.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 6:24 am
Ditto, Tony. As a member of other sites, I've discussed how to block abusive verbal behavior with other administrators. Although we all have freedom of speech, this particular form of venting angers for the sake of release (as immature as it is) isn't appropriate. Other sites who wish to block this kind of posting, have considered members logging in, using their email addresses. This method allows a site admin. to track the IP of the abuser and block them. I tend to think of these sorts the same way as I would if someone was screaming in my ear...I can't hear it properly, and simply plug my ears..so they rant, and rage on, to deaf ears.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 7:26 am
I tend to agree with Wolfweeps Pommawolf. On one side there are people who don't want a single animal or whale (or fish or anything in some cases) to be killed by any human being anywhere anytime for any reason (I've seen some in Care2.)
On the other hand there is such a difference in lifestyles, beliefs, survival circumstances between middle-class N. America living in cities or even rural N. America and Inuit or First Nations peoples in remote areas that this can make the two almost irreconciliable.

Of course don't think the Inuit or First Nations don't use a lot of 'white people's' middle class stuff or technology. They use high-powered rifles, snowmobiles, ATV's, motorboats, tvs, radios, computers, etc. etc. etc. They're not the pristine tradionalists they might want to give the impression that they are. It's not ALL bad what the white man has given or done to them. Ask any Inuit or First Nations person if they would rather snowmobile or walk where they want to, use a rifle or some traditional weapon, paddle a kayak or use a motorboat...

I haven't myself come to a conclusion about the kid and the whale. Lots of factors, lots of things I would need to more about before I personally decided about it.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 7:33 am
I don't mind comments on my stories.I applaud discussions on my stories,but
these nasty capslock comments just fill up my inbox in a way i don't appreciate,and is completely unnessesary.I believe that we al learned to have a discussion in a proper manner.And i also don't like the introductions from these trolls some keep sending me.
And i do understand the difference between so called traditional whaling for food,and commercial whaling,scientific whaling,please...All types of these whaling,all the meat ends up in the stores.My point is,that all whale/dolphin/fish/seal meat is contaminated with mercury and other toxics,and that some countries continue to eat it,and teaching their children to eat it ! Poisening their own people and own children.Plus the fact that whatever the stats say,whales are endangered,not only from whaling,also pollution,global warming and their foodsources are declining.The ignorance and apathy just is appalllng to me.And that those people say they don't have other ways to get food,well,sorry,not good enough.It's the "tradition" that keeps this going.
And not the lack of other foodsources

Saturday October 10, 2009, 7:55 am
Hi Claudia, yeah that guy further up the thread is a...well why stoop to his level. I flagged every one of his filthy 'comments'. Hey, these types of characters exist. I'm just surprised Care2 hasn't deleted them yet. I can't be the first one to flag his crap.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 8:41 am

And yet here are all the apologists, hiding again behind "culture," just as we know there would be.

I'll say this one last time (take note, those of you defending the "rights" of the perpetrators of mass extincution, mass torture, and mass incarceration of other beings for personal gain): Hiding being "culture" and "society" to excuse the systematic extermination of other beings changes NOTHING. You simply appear to be too inflexible, fearful, and stubborn to recognize that ALL cultures - YOURS INCLUDED, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE - must periodically examine the elements that make up a given culture and redefine it as the world changes around you. What was acceptable 1000 years ago is NOT acceptable now - that's the difference that you keep trying to avoid.

If any culture or society remains static, it will die. That's a given. Why continuously insisting on the death of others to describe who we are as people, regardless of what shade those people are? Why do this? There are groups who state it's "their culture" to suppress 50% of their population, forbidding them to vote, own property, operate a vehicle, to not be beaten or divorced arbitrarily, or anything else. Would YOU defend this excuse for stripping women of basic rights simply because any group attempted to excuse their selfish-abusive behaviour as "culture?" Somehow, I think not.

This case is no different whatsoever. The fact that women can organize and march in the streets for their rights helps them - animals do not tend to do this in our society, and here I am, advocating for the rights of the silent who are being abuse and victimized. Those who cry "my culture!" to excuse the murder of this being are advocating for the rights of the collective perpetrators of violence against animals - you are human, you are guilty, race and shade is irrelevant.

That's what this conversation is REALLY about so let's stop trying to use the "my culture" EXCUSE to justify something that isn't morally acceptable - especially in 2009 when the world has changed around all cultures forcing all of them to reconsider what it means to be who they are. Don't define youself based upon the murder of sentient beings, the moral imperative isn't on your side.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 9:30 am
This discussion is in my opinion a lot more tragic than the original article. People are crying out against and slamming a child with as much vehemence as a mob rallying against the local herbalist for being in league with "the devil", way back in the day. I see people speaking about what a travesty the traditional NONCOMMERCIAL hunting of whales, which in actuality amounts to a very small number of whales being harvested for the sustenance of a people as if these people were going out to systematically destroy an entire species. When did we remove ourselves from the food chain? At least these folks are hunting their food with respect to the species and the planet, unlike industrial farms.

Before you charge into the fray crying out injustice you should all look a little deeper into your own hearts and clear out your own intolerances. Since when did we decide that diversity and cultural differences were to be on our terms? Haven't we seen enough desecration of Native cultures?

Yes by all means protect the planet's creatures from commercial and industrial destruction. Protect their environments from habitat destruction due to the mass population and industrialization of the planet, but for the love of the planet... we have a place here and we are part of the food chain. The Inuit people are aware of their place within the food chain and have maintained the balance of that place for many, many generations, much the same as Native Americans maintained the balance when there were enough buffalo to hunt. Guess what...the Native people of this land were not the cause of the near extinctions of these animals. They took form these animals only what they needed to survive. This eagerness to rally against a culture for living in a manner we could all stand to take a lesson from is really sad and shameful.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 10:29 am
all whale/dolphin/fish/seal meat is contaminated with mercury and other toxics,and that some countries continue to eat it,and teaching their children to eat it ! Poisening their own people and own children.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 10:43 am
Yeah repeat
For ME i didn't have a problem with natives harvesting food,in this case a whale/seal,they almost use every part of a whale/seal,don't waste anything.BUT !!!
Don't they even care that they eat toxic meat with HIGH levels of mercury and other toxins ????
No one seems to comment on that.All i read is Native,traditions,culture ect ect ect.It has been scientific proven that eating contaminated whale/seal/dolphin meat is dangerous for your health and for unborn children,children being born with birth defects,linked to the parents consuming mercury contaminated food,let alone children who eat it too.They don't seem to be bothered by it,just to keep 'traditions" going.
I have personal contact with a whaler from the Faeroe Islands on Facebook,the ones who kill pilot whales,i frecuently ask him questions,they know about the mercury ect,but don't want to give up the traditions,it's lifestyle...So yeah,if they want to continue to teach their children this 'lifestyle' , don't complain when your child gets sick.And they do,already reports coming and been about children and elderly people who are sick or have birth defects because of mercury contaminated food.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 11:42 am
WOW!!! I am really in shock with some of the comments posted. The language is embarrassing!!! I did take the time to read the article and read everyones thoughts. I am still completely disgusted by this!!! The article reads that Paul Patkotak (a mere child), loves to go camping and whaling... loves the outdoors. His parents were so thrilled with the kill that they had tears in their eyes!!! What the article neglected to mention is the pain that this poor whale felt as he was being harpooned and that the boys parents should have tears of sadness in their eyes rather than tears of joy!!! I don't believe in killing whales... never have, never will. You can go on and on about tradition but what I see is a poor boy who will be scarred for life because of his actions. He's nine years old!!! This act of violence is teaching him that it's okay to destroy life. Traditions can be altered and changed but, as long as the tradition is not being condemned it will continue. I can only hope that the "tradition" will change with Paul Patkotak and his realization of the difference between right and wrong. Sometimes it takes a horrible story as this one to begin the cycle of change. PS... I hope the guy that used the horrible language in this thread is banned from this site!!! Someone who uses the words that he did to express himself should not be allowed to do so on a public site.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 12:45 pm
I am not sure how man allows itself to be such a sick, uncaring being. To allow a child to kill anything is very sick . Let put ten year olds in war. They can not fight until they are 18. they can not drink until they are 21. Then can kill anytime. How is it a person can go to jail for animal abuse while in companies they can slowly kill an animal or different creatures. Any body can kill any animal when they are told they are allowed to. I am not sure what laws other then the law of survive most men live by. That is even in relationships. If a child is allowed to kill at such an early age what respect do you think he will have when he gets older. Even the head Elder is against killing the whales in Alaska and is trying to stop it. Why have an Elder in charge if you are going to go against it. If no body was watching and I had the (KIDS) I would not call him a child, father for an hour I am sure he would never kill another things again in his life. I wish the world the destruction it is bringing on itself. Man will never wake up to see his actions before everything is gone. I am sure it is not the KIDS fault but he can not have any real feelings either. Most children have them and are slowly taken away by sick men’s programming.
T Hawksblood

Saturday October 10, 2009, 1:11 pm
What a shame that you taught your son the only way he can be anything he wants to be by taking a life. And its sad you were proud of your son to kill one of god creatures

Saturday October 10, 2009, 1:26 pm
Most people on here are living by what has been taught to them. The whiteman has said this is what we believe in and this is the way it should be done. And all you foools believe in one way. Is this not hypocritical? What about the farmer that is providing Beef, Pork or Poultry for you to purchase from your local grocery store. When you stop eating this then comment on others ways. This is the indigenous way for these people. Look into history, when did the problems start for the aboriginal peoples? When the white man forced these peoplle to do it there way. Instead of continuing to be part of the problem;become knowledgable about these people or keep you predjudgices to yourself

Saturday October 10, 2009, 2:47 pm
Please people!! These people are natives!! this is their CULTURE!! If it wasn't for greedy grubbing white folks like your selves, and your dear departed ancestors, these people wouldn't even be under this type of scrutiny for their actions!! Who really qualifies to throw the first stone here?? Obviously not you, not your whale bone corset wearing oil burning grandmothers, oh lord no. Please.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 6:53 pm

Jennifer R & Jesse E: Your gratuitous racism notwithstanding..."my culture" isn't an acceptable excuse for taking the lives of other beings. If it were, then you would have to agree with the Taliban that the subjegation and oppression of women is acceptable because it's "their culture." You cannot selectively apply a concept as it suits you. And drop the racist overtones, it's not acceptable, either.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 7:37 pm
Thank you Rooibos Bird for clearing things up!!!

Saturday October 10, 2009, 7:38 pm
wow what a volitile conversation! In reality, I dont live in Alaska, so, I dont know what I would do. I certianly would not allow my family and pets to starve to death. Granted, they must survive and is there culture and prospects for agriculture are very bleak.

But... if the MUST resort to the sea, WHY A SEA MAMMAL? An endangered one at that? Honestly I dont care if it IS tradition, an alternative needs to be found....

Saturday October 10, 2009, 7:40 pm
Live and let Live...all I gotta say on the subject...

Big gorilly hugs

Saturday October 10, 2009, 8:36 pm
apart from the kid murdering another being and the crude anti-activist's problem, the bottom line is, az Claudia iz expressing, iz the highly toxic methylmercury which haz contaminated whales, dolphins and most oceanic creatures...Minamata Disease is the problem, straight to the fetus of pregnant women if whale or dolphin meat iz consumed causing all kinds of problems to babie's organs etc...Japan and Norway promote whalemeat az a health food on one hand and on the other they have warnings on canned whalemeat in their supermakets advising pregnant women not to consume it, also in Japan theyre making dog biscuits from whalemeat and catfood from dolphin meat, so theyre not only poisoning their future by feeding their children whale meat in their school canteens but also their pet dogs n cats...btw whalekind are sentient beings like humankind but have a much higher inteligence than humankind...

Saturday October 10, 2009, 8:51 pm
so well said wolfweeps, amy s and dee n, and many others.

i respect everyone's right to their opinion, but the ethnocentrism and cultural bias, not to mention hypocrisy is astounding.

I guess some out there still think the food at the grocery store is better than the messy process of getting it yourself.

One day, perhaps, you will understand that what works for your and your community doesnt need to be forced on everyone everywhere. I guess it's still a european thing--the desire to 'civilize' the natives.

Saturday October 10, 2009, 10:59 pm
Roo

Your grasping to make a personal point that has nothing to do with this article, and has no point in fact.
The only comment I read is coming from you, and is coming across as racist and untrue.
Your judging a people you do not know, and making stretches that have no connection to this article.

Many of you have no clue or idea how life is in Alaska, and making wide sweeping statements, assumptions and judgements about a people you have no clue about.

I welcome you all to make the long journey to Alaska, learn about it....see the damage made as the result of the changes made here because people made the assumption that Alaskan Natives are stupid and backwards because they do not live up tthe standards what many of you demand from them.

Better yet....lets open the borders to the United States and let all people from all over the world in to demand changes that so many of you fight so hard against. Land of the free, home of the brave...and well darn it...we will force you to change because we demand it is to be just because you don't live up to another nations standards.

The Hypocracy and the blantant cruelty in judgement about the way you live...raise your children and how you eat will be changed because of outsiders just barging their way right in on your way of life.....I am sure that you will welcome them with open arms as you struggle to keep your communities, famly and culture alive and well....being that your so open minded and accepting I am sure that you will welcome forced change just because your lives are so static and unacceptable to those who lives are so much better than your own.

Sunday October 11, 2009, 6:04 am
The thing I find most disturbing about "cultural" ways, is the unwillingness to change, even if change is a GOOD thing for the total global environment.

Right away everyone starts screaming racism.

Same thing on nearly every continent.

God forbid someone told the tribes in Africa to stop eating the gorillas and chimanzees as bushmeat, because there are going to go extinct. Somehow, that would turn into a racial discussion.

Doesnt anyone get that life is going extinct in EVERY continent, while humans continue to bicker about who is right and wrong, once again, being concerned ONLY about human issues?

Sunday October 11, 2009, 8:10 am
Doesn't their culture have room for sympathy, empathy and improvement? I wish them all many nightmares over this horrible act.

Sunday October 11, 2009, 9:36 am
Wolfweeps:

Now who is being racist? Do you understand that "racism" can be practiced anyone and aimed at anyone? Do you?

You make a huge amount of assumptions about "my life," it's no secret that I have been a vegetarian for 21 years. So what, exactly, do you mean by the statement, "The Hypocracy and the blantant cruelty in judgement about the way you live..."

I don't have children, and I don't eat OTHER animals. What EXACTLY are you saying here? What I see in your response is defensiveness and the unwillingness to acknowledge that change has occurred, period. You complain about other people, but look at what you yourself say. Hypocrisy, anyone? There's a prime example.

The BILLIONS of OTHER animals on the planet don't have time left for your to understand this and for you and I to wrangle over our "perceptions of culture." To me, all humans are bretheran, and as such, we are a species that has committed mass crimes against other species. We ARE accountable for that on the macro level and don't try to insult anyone with a historical depiction that any particular group hasn't contributed to extinctions, because we all have - paleontology has found evidence of mass kill-offs of land creatures in North America within the past 10,000 years, and you know what that means, right? Do I have to spell it out fo
you?

Again, you look at the trees, I am looking at the forrest. Your defensive response is regrettable only because it impedes your path in seeing the larger and more unfortunate picture. You ARE my direct relative, regardless of your outward appearance, by virtue of being a Homo sapien. As such, we BOTH have to blood of other creatures on our hands, blood that never needed to be shed as humans are not required to consume flesh for survival and THAT was the point all along.

I'm not "forcing you to change," I'm challenging the status quo assumption that other creatures don't have rights, and that only humans do. That's a logical contradiction, and if that makes you feel SO uncomfortable that you resort to comments that ride the thin line of racism, too bad. You'll note that question behaviours of humans.

Sunday October 11, 2009, 10:18 am
Well this discussion seems to be getting to be more of a discussion and less of a name calling contest. There are vegetarians in Alaska, and there is room for change. But education is the way to change not condemnation and hand wringing. Check these out http://www.ivu.org/history/native_americans.html
http://alaskaveg.org/
http://www.city-data.com/forum/alaska/118349-hard-vegetarian-alaska.html
There is hope, but not by calling a nine year old child and his family and village names. Go to Alaska teach a course, donate to a school, You get more flies with honey then vinegar.

Monday October 12, 2009, 12:56 pm
some of the comments are good, but most of you are just being nasty to the 9 year old, his family should be proud of him, he's learning how to provide for this family, like i read in some of the comments, not everyone can just hope in a car and go shopping for food and other items when they need to, alot of families here alaska need to go out hunting to get food for the winter, and hunting is a tradition, that is taught to the young people, i was raised to be a hunter also, but i just don't care to hunt, just to go out fishing, i do hunt small game. and to all the ones with the nasty comments about the 9 year old, i know most of you eat meats, steaks, bacon, chicken, alot of those places are more cruel to those animals, and alot of the families here in alaska can't go all year round with out hunting, the natives don't go sport hunting like the whites do, they don't hunt just for the trophies, they hunt to survive the year

Monday October 12, 2009, 1:52 pm
I posted this story,but no one seems to be reading my own comments,like Jennifer R
Or should i use CAPSLOCK.I WILL REPEAT :
Friday October 9, 2009, 11:57 pm
Are you that 4th grader INTERNET PRICK ?
Don't come talking to me about a country's culture.This is about saving endangered species.
You even realise that the oceans health is most vital for the planets health and there for yours ?
No,don't think so
And what are these cultures,so called traditions teaching those children ???
Eat mercury contaminated whale meat,good for your health ???
They are poisening their own children.How ignorant can you be???
Even now the Japanese scientists agree that by eating dolphin meat,is dangerous for your health,FINALLY,some are waking up !
But ok,there are stillignorant people around,who don't give a damn,don't understand really,lack of education?
Internet isfull of info,i suggest you'd do some reading about mercury contaminated whale/dolphin/fish meat !!!!

Yeah repeat
For ME i didn't have a problem with real natives harvesting food,in this case a whale/seal,they almost use every part of a whale/seal,don't waste anything.BUT !!!
Don't they even care that they eat toxic meat with HIGH levels of mercury and other toxins ????
No one seems to comment on that.All i read is Native,traditions,culture ect ect ect.It has been scientific proven that eating contaminated whale/seal/dolphin meat is dangerous for your health and for unborn children,children being born with birth defects,linked to the parents consuming mercury contaminated food,let alone children who eat it too.They don't seem to be bothered by it,just to keep 'traditions" going.
I have personal contact with a whaler from the Faeroe Islands on Facebook,the ones who kill pilot whales,i frecuently ask him questions,they know about the mercury ect,but don't want to give up the traditions,it's lifestyle...So yeah,if they want to continue to teach their children this 'lifestyle' , don't complain when your child gets sick.And they do,already reports coming and been about children and elderly people who are sick or have birth defects because of mercury contaminated food.And see Tony's last submission

MERCURY POISENING PEOPLE.THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN TO EAT !!!!!!!!!!
REST MY CASE...

Monday October 12, 2009, 2:01 pm
Allthough I abbor any animal being killed for any reason...Listen to what Claudia has to say for it is important especially the Mercury that they are intaking by eating the whales seals etc...do you not think this it true??? I do soley respect claudia for she is a damn good authority on the whales...

Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday October 12, 2009, 2:28 pm
I am surprised at the intolerant, uneducated comments from members of a peace-conscious community. I feel these comments are made without understanding of Native people or our culture. Many years we have struggled to keep our cultural way of life throughout war, integration of civilization and oncoming of religion. It is a huge reality check to know that there are still people out there who believe that we as Native people should think, act and eat like them-- this is me teasing you about 'living in the past'. Our way of life in Alaska is much different than yours in the lower 48. We are very dependent upon our seasons, which are changing in strange ways here. We depend on our hunting and subsistence to survive. And we depend on passing our knowledge to our young people to keep our traditions. Cultural systems throughout rural Alaska are strong and have been followed for many thousands of years. Whale hunting, seal hunting, caribou hunting, fishing, etc., are all apart of our survival system. Indigenous languages are also still spoken in many areas, as are the traditional song, dance and artwork. There is significance in every part of the Native culture. It is a beautiful culture. Our Elders teach us to waste nothing, to take nothing for granted, to work together, and to display thanks to every living thing. Everything has a purpose.

In this modern day and age, many Native communities could not survive without hunting. This is a fact. To bring food to the rural communities is expensive, a gallon of milk can be as much as $8.00 or more. I grew up on fish, moose meat and rice, I did not know what fresh spinach looked like until my 20's, even though there was a local grocery store in my community. Produce is very expensive in rural alaska. I am a modern Alaska Native and I live in the city now, and food is still very costly.

Whether the age of this young Native hunter in Barrow is appropriate is a matter between the family, crew leader and the Tribal people of Barrow.

You have just as much right to your way of life and freedom of speech. But maybe now you can speak with a little more knowledge and understanding to our way of life.

Quyana. Thank you.

Monday October 12, 2009, 2:30 pm



http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/ocean-mercury-increasing

Big increase in ocean mercury found; study predicts more human threat from fish
Mercury in ocean will rise by 50 percent as emissions from coal-fired power plants increase, study says. U.S. scientists document for first time how mercury from industry gets into seafood.

By Marla Cone
Editor-in-Chief
Environmental Health News

May 2, 2009

Mercury levels in the Pacific Ocean will rise by 50 percent within the next few decades as emissions from coal-fired power plants and other sources increase, scientists reported Friday.


romannphoto/flickr

The researchers, led by scientists from Harvard University and the U.S. Geological Survey, found that the ocean’s mercury levels have already risen about 30% over the last 20 years. Combined, the findings mean the Pacific Ocean will be twice as contaminated with mercury in 2050 as it was in 1995 if the emission rates continue.

As a result, people around the globe could be increasingly exposed to mercury from eating fish and other seafood. Methylmercury, a neurotoxin, can alter brain development of fetuses and has been linked with learning problems and reduced IQs in some children.

The research team also documented for the first time how mercury from industrial sources contaminates seafood.

For decades, scientists have tried to explain whether the methylmercury in ocean fish is natural or manmade, with some saying it originated in the ocean. USGS geochemist David Krabbenhoft and his colleagues discovered that industrial emissions are transformed into methylmercury in mid-depth ocean waters.

"This study gives us a better understanding of how dangerous levels of mercury move into our air, our water, and the food we eat, and shines new light on a major health threat to Americans and people all across the world,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said in a statement.

The scientists reported that algae filtering down to the mid-ocean depths of 200 to 700 meters is decomposed by bacteria, which “methylates” the industrial mercury, turning it into methylmercury, a form that can be taken up by marine life. The methylmercury then moves up the food web, from species to species.

The new findings are “critically important to the health and safety of the American people and our wildlife because it helps us understand the relationship between atmospheric emissions of mercury and concentrations of mercury in marine fish,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a statement.

“We have always known that mercury can pose a risk, now we need to reduce the mercury emissions so that we can reduce the ocean mercury levels,” Salazar said.

A spokesperson for the fishing industry, Mary Anne Hansan of the National Fisheries Institute, said the researchers did not test levels of mercury in fish, only ocean waters, "which renders any conclusions or forecasts about seafood incomplete and irresponsible."

"This study deserves hard scrutiny, especially because existing, peer-reviewed research shows no mercury increase in ocean-going fish over the last 30 years," she said.

The findings were based on mercury samples from 16 locations in the North Pacific, including waters off Alaska and Hawaii, according to the article published in a journal of the American Geophysical Union called Global Biogeochemical Cycles.

The study’s lead author, Elsie Sunderland, of Harvard University’s Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group, reported in 2007 that 40% of people’s exposure to methylmercury in the United States comes from tuna. While some fish are more highly contaminated, tuna is the most widely consumed fish. 40% of people’s exposure to methylmercury in the United States comes from tuna.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women, nursing mothers and women who may become pregnant to limit their fish and seafood consumption to two, 6-ounce meals per week. They should avoid all consumption of shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish, and no more than one of the weekly meals should be albacore or white tuna, the FDA says.

About 6% of U.S. women, or about 3.8 million people, exceed the amount of mercury that the EPA says is safe for fetuses.

Krabbenhoft, Sunderland and their colleagues said it’s not too late to avoid the projected increase in ocean mercury.
Since they found that mercury levels in the vast ocean can increase so rapidly, they said it is also likely that the levels would decrease rapidly if emissions are reduced.

Asia’s burning of coal is the primary source of mercury emissions worldwide.

The scientists said they were surprised to discover that much of the mercury is circulated over vast distances via the ocean, not the air. The emissions fall to the ground near the Asian coasts, then are transported eastward by ocean currents, Krabbenhoft said.

The study is available at http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2009/2008GB003425.shtml

Details of the report are available from the USGS at http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/pacific_mercury.html

Monday October 12, 2009, 2:39 pm
Shawna I am Native American myself and my people dont go hunting like we once did....I am also VERY educated so you can keep that comment to yourself. You wanna talk about how expensive things are well my brethren that live on reservations can hardly make it so dont give this crap about milk being too expensive my for people cant make it either but they somehow they do for we are pretty resiliant. We are in the 20th century now and every whale, walrus, polar bear, seal that is taken is another that unfortunatly in this hellish world will be hard to replace...HUMANS are destructive and any culture that condones any of this is apart of it no matter where you are or where you live. Besides do you really enjoy eating mercury????

Gorilly

Monday October 12, 2009, 2:53 pm
according to the article that i've read and posted here, alot of people are getting mercury poisoning, so don't go just accusing alaska natives about trying to teach their kids/young people that killing/eating sea life or land mammals that they live off of is bad for them. and like shawna was saying living in rural alaska is expensive, alot of the food/fuel isnt readily for alot of rural alaska, about all of it has to be flown into the rural places, and that gets to be very expensive, so alot of the people that live in the rural places have to hunt to support themselves and families

Monday October 12, 2009, 4:58 pm
The Inuit, whose diet is rich in fish, whale, and seal, are especially vulnerable to atmospheric contaminants from more temperate parts of the world, such as mercury, that find their way into the fragile Arctic ecosystem. Kippi told Keeler that during his grandfather’s lifetime, the ice along the shore at Barrow had dropped from a thickness of 200 feet to less than 100 feet. “They’re willing to help us because they very much want us to figure out why this is happening,” Keeler says of the Inuit guides. “Their way of life is changing drastically.” The ecosystem, Keeler adds, is “more than just a source of food to them— it’s an integral part of their culture.”

2005 study http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/findings/fall05/features/three.htm

All health care providers in Alaska received introductory materials during June 2002 and were encouraged to provide testing for their pregnant patients. Upon request, the ADPH provides health care providers with materials for collecting and submitting hair samples.21 The samples are about 1/8 inch in diameter and are collected from the back of the head close to the scalp. Initially, samples submitted to ADPH were analyzed by Frontier GeoSciences in Seattle, Wash, with cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry.22 Today, unwashed samples are analyzed by the Alaska Public Health Laboratory with a direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80, Milestone, Inc). Samples that have total mercury levels higher than 10 mg/kg are sent to Frontier GeoSciences for methylmercury analysis.
Individual results and reference levels are sent to each woman’s health care provider. Women who have hair mercury levels higher than 5 mg/kg are interviewed to determine probable exposure sources, and their health care providers are consulted to determine optimal dietary advice.
The program also supports targeted testing of all women of childbearing age aged 15 to 45 years in areas of the state where relatively more fish, marine mammals, or both are consumed. In June 2003, ADPH began accepting hair samples from women of childbearing age who lived in 1 area of the state where there is heavy subsistence use.
To date, 4 women have been found to have hair mercury levels higher than 5 mg/kg (Figure 2 [triangle]FIGURE 2 ). The pregnant woman whose level of hair mercury was 180 mg/kg was visiting from Tanzania, Africa, and delivered her infant in Alaska. Although she had an extremely high level of hair mercury, she reported no clinical symptoms of mercury toxicity. She also reported that she had not consumed Alaska fish. An extensive case investigation—including testing the species of African fish she consumed—failed to identify a potential source of mercury exposure. Her blood mercury level was 23 μg/L, and her infant’s blood mercury level was 15 μg/L. Unfortunately, the small amount of hair initially collected precluded methylmercury analysis, and the patient would not provide another hair sample for additional testing.
Two pregnant women from western Alaska had hair mercury levels of 6.4 mg/kg and 5.2 mg/kg, respectively. They are enrolled in the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s maternal-infant cord blood study and have had medical follow-up as part of that project. One woman of childbearing age had a hair mercury level of 7.8 mg/kg. This level was confirmed during her follow-up investigation. Interviews with her family indicated the most likely food item that contributed to her mercury exposure was marine mammal muscle or organ meat. Testing was then offered to the entire community, and an additional 25 individuals provided hair samples. This community, which consists primarily of Alaska Natives, is very remote and has no readily available alternative to traditional subsistence foods. We are currently consulting with village-based community health aides and the regional Tribal Health Board to (1) analyze food items that may have high levels of methylmercury, and (2) evaluate the benefits of subsistence food consumption and the potential risks from exposure to methylmercury to determine optimum dietary advice.
When creating ethical public health recommendations for fish consumption, it is essential to weigh both benefits and risks. The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research identifies 3 “basic ethical principles” for protecting human subjects of research: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.1 The principle of beneficence has been expressed as 2 complementary actions: (1) do not harm, and (2) maximize possible benefits and minimize possible risks. Although national fish advisories are not intended as research, they overemphasize risks and undervalue the benefits of fish consumption. Highly restrictive generic fish consumption advisories, such as the ones issued by the EPA and the FDA, can cause harm by unnecessarily warning people not to consume fish. Among Alaska Natives who rely heavily on these foods for their nutritional, spiritual, and cultural health, the results can be disastrous.40,41
The current EPA and FDA advisories should take into account recent advances in our ability to quantify actual exposure levels to environmental contaminants. These advances have made biomonitoring a cost-effective public health tool for helping federal, state, and local health agencies develop optimal dietary guidance.
Excerpts from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1449190

Monday October 12, 2009, 5:03 pm
Thank you dee for your post...It explains it all....again Thanks

Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:15 pm
Roo,

Your own words come across as biased and borderline racist....You have no right to demand that a people who have lived in this manner for thousands of years to change because you say so. Your words "you people", is offensive and has the feel of racism. We are not practicing mass extinction, nor mass torture, and to refer to our culture and society as an "excuse" is just another word for intolerance. We are not stubborn because we have no desire to be like the rest of the world, we have every desire to maintain our traditions and culture.

YOUR WORDS:
"I'll say this one last time (take note, those of you defending the "rights" of the perpetrators of mass extincution, mass torture, and mass incarceration of other beings for personal gain): Hiding being "culture" and "society" to excuse the systematic extermination of other beings changes NOTHING. You simply appear to be too inflexible, fearful, and stubborn to recognize that ALL cultures - YOURS INCLUDED, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE - must periodically examine the elements that make up a given culture and redefine it as the world changes around you. What was acceptable 1000 years ago is NOT acceptable now - that's the difference that you keep trying to avoid. "

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:48 pm
You people need to stop judging other cultures through your own culture. The Inuit have survived in one of the harshest environments in the world for thousands of years. The act of taking a whale helps bring health back into these communities. Native villages face staggering rates of suicide, substance abuse, sexual assault and extreme poverty. These traditional activities help alleviate many of the social ills of the community.

For you people arguing about mercury you really need to get your facts straight. There is no way in the world commercial food would be better for this isolated village. Do some research and you will find that Indigenous groups that drop their traditional diets suffer massive health problems. These communities do not have the time or money that you have to buy healthy foods. They would be stuck to buying cheap/sugar/processed foods. This is the exact reason why Native American groups suffer diabetes at a higher rate then any other ethnicity. Back in the 60's scientist went to Alaska to study the Native groups and find out why diabetes was non existent. Sadly, today scientist go to Alaska to study why Natives have such a high rate of health problems. Almost all of the problems can be linked to their diet.

Monday October 12, 2009, 9:40 pm
Thank you Dee, Shawna, John, Joshua!

You have added to what I have been trying to get across but evidently there is a brick wall that is not reachable by any means.
I have thought for many years that intercultural communication should not be left as a class for college aged adults, but taught at the grade school level. How can grown adults not know about tolerance and how to understand another culture without having to resort to brutal language and anger at those who live a different way of life?

I have watched my brothers and sisters health fail systematically into diabetic nightmare, high blood pressure, ultra high NAS. Why? Because they have tried to adapt, and it has literally poisoned their bodies.
I have been a caregiver for my native famlies, and while you have the intolerance to damand change in another peoples world you never will walk nor live in their world either.
Intolerance...and ignorance of a peoples way of life is no excuse to demand that they pay attention to the mercury content in their doets. Amazing that they, we seem to live alot longer with out the having to bend to your diets and food intake.

Tuesday October 13, 2009, 3:00 pm
hunting and fishing is part of the culture here in alaska, as im sure it's part of alot of different cultures around the world, but alot of native alaskans depend on the hunting/fishing that they do all year round. most of them hunt to support themselves/families to last them long enough to where they will need to go out hunting/fishing again, they stock up their freezers with what they caught. and as for trying to call him a little murderer/killer, you don't see any stories/articles about them killing/shooting out schools like you see that happening in the lower 48, and asa for calling his parents bad for teaching him how to kill/hunt, he's learning how to support himself/family from the parents, not alot of people here in alaska were born with a silver spoon in their mouths to were they can just go to the store and buy what they need. the parents do teach them values and what's right and wrong, just because most of you think killing/hunting animals is bad doesn't make it wrong, the hunters up here dont go hunting and place their catches on the walls of their homes.

Tuesday October 13, 2009, 11:51 pm
Ha-Ho!
I have spent most of the day reading comments and I only ask that you see it for this young man and his people,respectfully! I am a member of the Ho-Chunk-Gra Nation from the Elk clan. I understand how those would feel about a whale or any part of creation being killed. Did this young man kill for sport? Did this young man kill because of his life being in danger or his family facing peril? Our customs and ways of the Indigenous Native are judged by your own beliefs. I am sure this young man was in fact honoring his traditions which are based on beliefs and way of life in utmost respect for the Creator's Creation. How funny it is that those who judge this young man and his people cannot see the way their own people who have been bent on destruction and base many things on lies and deceit for their own ill gotten means. We see this everyday on the news of wars,murder,manifest destiny, I could go on but I think you know what I mean. Kind of what you may have heard that happened in Arizona, where two human beings lost their lives trying to adopt ways of worshiping the Creator but did so at a cost(10,000 dollars a seat) and thier lives. Our indigenous culture and beliefs are sought after in many ways to who advantage? I know many of my own relatives talk amongst themselves and say,"They have taken our lands,our families,our sacred grounds and desecrated our relatives graves for the sake of science, the list is endless! Now they want our religions!
When does it end? When do those responsible or their offspring understand that we are human beings and we have beliefs and a way to worship[ the same Creator you do? No doubt I will get many replies of hate and negativity but really if you do not like our ways or our property then give it all abck and hop on your boats, airplanes or what have you and leave and take all your ways with you and never come back!
See, never will happen! Sorry we the Indigenous peoples of this side of the world act so stupid or our parents do not teach their children to act right!
Light and Life to you and yours!
TT-TTO-NI-K
Elk

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 4:10 am
A note to the comments from First Nation members who are offering a different viewpoint from that of the many animal acitvists. If you scroll back to somewhere near the beginning of this thread I hope you will find my input as a rural living whiteman with most of lifes requirements nearby or only a car ride away, reasonbly balanced and not simply condemnatory by simply being against period! The views of my fellow activists are fueled by passion and a daily diet of abuse against the animal kingdom and of course nature and humans as well. The manner of the publicity for this young mans whale kill was unfortunate in that it errs on the side of glorifying the killing process rather than the actuality of native survival and hard living conditions. Comparable with say stone age man in the UK living in caves and having to hunt for subsistance and clothing there not being a 7/11 store or even the dollars to use it if, it were there! Understanding someone elses point of view is not an easy one to engage when the activity is so diametrically opposed to ones own principles. For example a man sets fire to a bull and taunts it the name of religion most people will find this abhorent, a wealthy talented man rapes a young girl and hides behind his wealth and talent. most feel revolted by his action. Now a young boy kills a whale and is honoured for it and is the subject of pride in his family and Nation on the one hand and on the other the gut reaction of the pro animal group is obviously one of revoltion firstly at the death of the whale and secondly at the outpouring of pride in the act. So I'm sure the First Nation supporters of this boy will appreciate the reactions from the activists. It is interesting to note a comment from a felllow First Nationer that she believes that the Inuit should cast off their old ways as many who are on reservations elsewhere have. That is an equally valid viewpoint to yours and I must admit I was surprised by it! There is obviously a conflict between both the necessity of subsistance hunting and the need to preserve the culture as opposed to moving away from that culture! All I can say is as an outsider looking in I don't like the idea of killing and certainly not the apparent glorification of the killing but I have not experienced your world first hand and therefore to expect you to adopt my principles is arrogant in the least and by your accounts of the hardships endured to exist extremely difficult in practice! Many have quite rightly observed that this kill was not for the trophy or fun of killing such as many whitemen and women indulge in but for the food bounty and therefore one of need rather than arrogant egotistical desire and pure destructiveness! Having said that I would hope that in the light of the contamination present in these animals that efforts should be made by Government to minimise the depravations of the First Nations by providing more assistance with their plight rather than the example set by the Canadian Government of hanging it's seal clubbing business on the backs of the First Nations and effectively using them as a human shield to support it purely commercial interests!

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 7:14 am
that not watch to teach a child that is bad thanks claldia

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 7:43 am
This is totally disgusting that a boy that young is being taught to kill animals.

it is not nessary even in Alaska to do such horrific killing. Alaska is not in the dark ages. they do not have to kill any animals to survive. they do so for tradtition and because it is a way of life. they kill whales and other wildlife just as other americans eat farm animals, out of tradition, always have done it, and the disgusting desire for the taste of the animal flesh.

NO ANIMAL ANYWHERE IS NESSARY FOR FOOD. We live in the 21st century where plant foods abound and are accessible to all poeple.

i am sure this young boy was praised and celebrated as being a mighty hunter and made to feel like he did a honorable and great thing killing a whale at such a young age. how horrific to be teaching a young chiild to kill animals for any reasons.

i am shocked at some of the commments on this page at how callous and cruel minded humans can be.

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 9:35 pm
Intolerlance is still alive and well in the 21st century, and along with it comes meanspiritedness toward a child and his people who none of you will ever stoop low enough to even meet nor know anytime in your lifetimes. So when you go to bed each night remember that it is achild you are judging, being taught by his family how to survive in his native ways. So enjoy your own personal worlds, and unless you can walk a mile in another poersons world....judge not yet you be judged your selves, for one day you all shall be by the future generations that follow after you.

Friday October 30, 2009, 5:48 pm
Aw, c'mon folks. There's something really two-faced about condemning this boy and his culture. Hunting is an intrinsic part of the natural world, and unless the argument is made that we are not part of the natural world, it should be expected that some cultures will hunt. The boy should be celebrated. One might point out to all you ready to criticize that condemn, that if you drive a car, use electricity, or any petrofuel, you are killing things too. That you don't have the cadavers on your doorstep is an accidental irrelevancy. I'm not saying you should stop using or doing these things, but understand you yourselves are just as guilty.