Alaska Native village lands first whale in 72 years
Monday, June 15, 2009
Filed Under:
Environment
The Alaska Native village of Point Lay is celebrating after landing its first whale in 72 years.
The community will hold a Nalukataq blanket toss feast on June 26. Hundreds are expected for the historic event.
"It's a symbolic celebration that a whale was taken," Julius Rexford, a whaling captain, told The Anchorage Daily News.
The village nearly lost its whaling tradition. Hunting by non-Natives nearly decimated the whale population and nearly everyone moved away from the village until being lured back by oil development.
Get the Story:
Point Lay celebrates first whale in 72 years
(The Anchorage Daily News 6/15)
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