Videos

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The Makah Nation: A Whaling People

The Makah people have always lived near the tip of the Olympic Peninsula in what today is the State of Washington. Whales formed the heart of the tribe's culture. One of the Makah's oldest stories tells how Thunderbird saved the tribe from starvation by providing a whale to eat.

By 1920, non-Indian commercial whaling had driven gray whale populations nearly extinct. The Makah Tribe voluntarily stopped whaling to protect the remaining population, more than 30 years before the United States and other countries began to regulate commercial whaling through the International Whaling Commission.

Since that time, gray whale populations have rebounded to historic high levels. On May 17, 1999, the Makah harvested their first gray whale in more than 70 years. Revival of the Makah whaling tradition has resulted in a greater renewal of the tribe's culture. It is a success story of how a creature, once nearly driven to extinction, has returned to abundance and to its place of honor in the lives of the first inhabitants of this region.

Through Salmon Eyes

This video, produced in concert with the "One With The Watershed" curriculum, tells the traditional story of Salmon Woman and the promises made to get salmon to return to their rivers of origin. Experience the many challenges of swimming into the heart of a watershed through the eyes of the salmon, and learn lessons critical to the protection and restoration of this precious resource. The video, presented by Salmon Homecoming, was produced by the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission with a Title II grant through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Treaty Indian Fisheries and Salmon Recovery

Treaty Indian Fisheries and Salmon Recovery dispels many of the myths about tribal fishing practices and explains why habitat loss and degradation is the single most significant factor contributing to the decline of the salmon resource. This 10-minute video explains salmon migration patterns, how tribal fishing nets are used to selectively harvest healthy salmon runs, and how the treaty Indian tribes in western Washington are carefully managing their fisheries in cooperation with the State of Washington to protect the salmon resource for future generations.

NWIFC | 6730 Martin Way E. | Olympia, WA 98516 | (360) 438-1180 | Fax: (360) 753-8659 | Email: contact@nwifc.org