I had the good fortune to be taken on a whaling trip while I was in the western arctic.(Inuvik) I was teaching in a school with an approximate 900 enrolment, 50 teachers and 6 caretakers.
Some of the caretakers would spend part of the summer hunting whales and processing skin, fat and meat. They asked four of us if we'd like to go with them. I couldn't say no to this invitation.
They had their camp set up in an area known as White Fish station. They had camped there many times before and a lot of the equipment they used was stored there.
They hunted the beluga whales . Their hunting was not terribly efficient. They would spot some whales and chase them . The whales would need to come up to breath and then with a high powered rifle they would shoot at what little part was above water. So picture this. The boat is going up and down on the waves and the whale is also going up and down. Good luck in making a shot.
However, when I went out they did manage to shoot a whale. Then they have to quickly harpoon the whale and attach floats to it. They then tow it to the beach. They were not able to harpoon the whale when I was there so the whale sunk and was lost.
Processing the whale on the beach is a tremendous amount of work. They carefully take off the white skin. Then they collect the fat. Sea mammals have a high percentage of fat. Then they take off the meat. The meat is very black. It is hung over poles and dried to be eaten later.
The fat is boiled and the skin cooked in it. This is the muktuk which is stored to be eaten later. I did not try any of this food as I was not offered a taste. However, the people in the area looked at muktuk as a delicacy. This meat is highly nutritious and contains many vitamins necessary for good health.
Taking a shot
Attempting to harpoon
This whole process is somewhat different in various areas
To live in an arctic climate rich food containing lots of fat is necessary for energy and body heat. These were some of the few hunters who knew how to harvest whales.
How lucky you are to have gotten that glimpse of their life from the inside. Have you ever read any of Bill Hess's stuff? http://wasillaalaskaby300.squarespace.com/journal/category/whaling
ReplyDeleteI will write a note to myself and check this book out.
DeleteWow! What a wonderful adventure.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those things that was not planned. We were invited.
DeleteWhat a very rich life you led in terms of experiences that so very few other people who didn't actually live in the area will have had.
ReplyDeleteVery few people working in the Arctic got out and explored things.
DeleteI am glad the people could find food to eat! Have a great day and a happy new week!
ReplyDeleteTraditional whale hunting is almost gone. Very few hunted in 1966 when I was out.
DeleteI remember trying to shoot pilot wales down east with a camera, so I can imagine the difficulty.
ReplyDeleteYou know exactly what I mean. these guys were excellent shots.
DeleteSounds like you had a whale of a time.
ReplyDeleteI have no issue with Arctic people killing the odd whale for survival purposes but commercial whaling should now be banished. The tactics of the Japanese whaling industry are despicable.
Yes, I had a whale of a time. Now I think aboriginals only take whales for cultural traditions.
DeleteIncredible story. Quite an experience! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI was very fortunate to be able to see this process.
DeleteI wonder how often that happened, that a whale was shot and died for no reason because it couldn't be harpooned in time? Seems like such a shame. Still, I understand that for the Inuit whales are an essential food source. Like YP, I can understand allowing whaling for indigenous people who depend on it, but not on a large commercial basis.
ReplyDeleteAboriginals do very little whale hunting now. some is done for purposes of maintaining culture.
DeleteA special experience to be asked to go out and hunt. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYes, I look back and it was special. They didn't mind us asking dumb questions.
DeleteIncredible! And also true! You have truly led a unique life in a remote part of the world and lived to tell about it.
ReplyDeleteThe lived to tell about it phrase you use is much truer than you think.
DeleteHi Red, What a great experience. I wish they had given you a bite so you could tell us how it tasted. Google says it is similar to reindeer or moose. I haven't had those either so Google wasn't so helpful. :-)
ReplyDeleteGoogle is quoting an opinion. It's not like moose or caribou. People told me that it was a bit of a nutty flavor. Whales have different food so have a different flavor than the land mammals.
DeleteThese old slides are giving me quite an education, Red! You were lucky to have been invited along on such an adventure. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I look back and realize how lucky I was.
DeleteFascinating!
ReplyDeleteIt was fascinating and remains fascinating to this day.
DeleteAn invitation not to be turned down.
ReplyDeleteVery little aboriginal whaling is done anymore so I'm glad I had the experience.
DeleteWow! This is so very interesting, Red. Thank you so much for sharing these photos and explaining how it's done. I really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteMany interesting moments in your life!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure to be able to witness something like that that most of us will only read in books. I also learned something. I didn't know that the whales sink when killed and so must be attached to floats. I guess in the old days when only harpoons were used, they were always died off to barrels or boats and so it wasn't so important to mention as it was obvious. But with rifles and bullets, this is no longer the case and so an important part.
ReplyDeleteoh i felt for the poor whale who's attempt to take breath kills her
ReplyDeletewe had watched the national geographic show once long ago in which was showed exactly same story ,it was about some arctic town where people would haunt a really huge fish and then go through all that you mentioned here dear Red ,and that fish was enough for whole village for an year ,haunting and all process till hanging meat to dry was something i could never forget :)
how amazing that your career made you live through such adventures
I was surprised at how small the boat was. You certainly have had some interesting experiences, Red. My teaching career was not nearly as adventurous!
ReplyDeleteA lot of work.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, too bad you didn't get a taste.
ReplyDeleteWow that was interesting! Your old slides tell many great stories!
ReplyDeleteWow!! That sounds exciting!
ReplyDelete