CHANGING FROM THE PRESENT TO THE PAST: THE MAKAH INDIAN WHALING CASE

Abstract

In 1994, following the removal of the grey whale from the endangered species list, the Makah Indian tribe of the U.S.  northwest coast requested permission to hunt grey whales, a request based on historical culture and "aboriginal subsistence." Whaling had been a part of the Makah culture for centuries. The Makahs, with the support of the U.S. government, were eventually successful in their request, and killed a grey whale in May 1999. Using case methodology, this paper explores through the Makah change initiative the nuances and complexities of a change from the present to the past, and change strategies and outcomes.