Posted on 06/26/2002 8:20:50 PM PDT by chance33_98
Whale capsizes hunter's boat
Gina Anderson
Anchorage, Alaska, June 26 - A hunter was killed during a boating accident near Little Diomede Island Wednesday. Melton Ozenna, 41, was on a whale hunt with three other men.
Witnesses say the whale came up under the boat and capsized it, throwing all four men into the water. Melton hit his head on the bow as the boat flipped over. Another boat came and rescued the men right away, but Melton stopped breathing moments later. They were not able to revive him on the boat trip back to Little Diomede.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, the Makah tribe has successfully sued to be allowed to hunt whale. But what they want to do is hardly according to their native customs. I would be whole-heartedly in support of unlimited whaling if they did it like their ancestors did!
Nothing could be used that they didn't make using tools that the indigenous Indians used prior to the arrival of white man. Dugout canoes - built the old-fashioned way. No motor boat to tow them out to the hunting site. No wet suits. No 50 caliber gun to kill the whale after the ceremonial harpoon is thrown. Then it would be man vs. whale, the old fashioned way. And perhaps the whale might win a few .. . but hey ... that is part of the customs!!
Mike
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