A question about how to pose a question about Makah whale hunting

[Freedda]

I know that this has been covered numerous times in countless ways, but if you'll indulge me ....

I was just reading in the N.Y. Times that the Makah tribe in far Western Washington state (U.S.) want to start whaling again. This was a part of their culture and way of life for thousands of years, and they maintained the right to hunt whales when they signed a treat with the U.S. in the 1800s. They are the only U.S. tribe that kept this right. (See links to articles, below)

The Makah voluntarily stopped whaling in the 1920s - and resumed - and then did only one whale hunt in 1999, after which they were again banned from hunting. They have now applied for approval to hunt gray whales, and it is likely that NOAA will approve this, allowing the tribe to catch as many as four Eastern North Pacific gray whales every two years for the next decade.

This - as you might imagine - was and is fiercely opposed by different conservation and animal rights groups. The Makah feel this is within their right (as a sovereign nation/entity) and that this is very important to their culture and survival. Many of them also don't appreciate outsiders - once again - telling them what is good for them and what they can and can not do, especially from whites.

... I am of mixed mind about this, and though it would be a good issue to pose to the Yi, but I'm not quite sure how to ask it. Some possibilities:

To simply say 'tell me something about the Makah proposal to resume hunting.'

Or, 'should the Makah resume whale hunting?'

Or, just a statement ... 'Makah whale hunting.'

Or? ... Or, does it really matter that much?​

Any opinions, thoughts, suggestions? (I'm leaning towards the first and third options.)

And for more info ...
If you have access to the NY Times: Will Whale Hunting Return to the Pacific Northwest?

From Indian Country Today: Makah one step closer to hunting whales: Animal rights extremists continue to oppose it

Best, D.

 

[Trojina]

Well who is the question for ? It's for you isn't it ? You need to know how to feel/be around the hunting so maybe 'tell me about my best stance to the whale hunting ?'

I think if you leave your self out of questions the answer can be hard to apply and also you distance yourself from Yi. I think it is best to stay close to oneself in questions.

Ten different people could ask about this hunting and all get different answers so there is probably not one objective right answer.

Is it that you cannot decide what to think/feel about this issue ? When people ask general questions about the outer world I'd take the answer as for them even though it's a general question.

 

[Freedda]

Well who is the question for ? It's for you isn't it ?

Is it that you cannot decide what to think/feel about this issue ? When people ask general questions about the outer world I'd take the answer as for them even though it's a general question.

Thanks Trojina. I don't think I'm asking the Yi to come up with a definitive answer for me - 'this is how you should think (or feel)' ... but I'm posing it to perhaps gain more information, or a different/new perspective about the issue.

(I'm noticing that for some reason I'm struggling with this particular question, which I don't usually do, so that might be telling me something as well. Hmmm.)

This query/response may or may not lead to a final 'decision' about the issue for me, but that's not my main goal. However, making it more personal - and less general - seems like good advice.

Thanks again, David.

 

[Freedda]

PS - I found this ... Makah whaler. Photo by Edward S. Curtis, 1915

 

[my_key]

... I am of mixed mind about this, and though it would be a good issue to pose to the Yi, but I'm not quite sure how to ask it. Some possibilities:

To simply say 'tell me something about the Makah proposal to resume hunting.'​

​

Or, 'should the Makah resume whale hunting?'​

​

Or, just a statement ... 'Makah whale hunting.'​

​

Or? ... Or, does it really matter that much?​

Any opinions, thoughts, suggestions? (I'm leaning towards the first and third options.)

Hi David
Does it really matter that much? To my way of thinking it does. Energy follows thought, so asking the wrong question can send out far reaching consequences. ( Butterfly flapping its wings in one place forming a storm in another kind of thinking). It's hard enough sometimes to find a right answer to a right question !
1 - the something you get might not be clarity on the something you are looking for.
2 - Yes / No - not the easiest to follow the story from Q to A.
3 - Neutral - so gives a blank page. ( this gets my vote from your options)

What I have tried in the past, when stuck on finding a right question, is to give some context for the Q to work within. I just brainstorm on a page a whole set of thoughts, feelings, emotions on / around the subject keeping then to one / two words. This provides some context and to a degree an intention from you about the shape of the question without a firm formation of the question.
Use the whole page and don't make a linear list. Important to not edit or second think what comes into your head initially - allow a natural rhythm to unfold. First entry top left, second mid right etc and if you feel really creative turn the page randomly between entries so the words are all upside down or at strange relative positions to each other. Use different colours, do a doodle, stick on a picture from a magazine (or maybe your picture posted here) ........just make the thing not about a question but an expression of what is inside you. In itself this method can be insightful .

And then do your reading with the piece of paper prominently positioned. Cast the coins over it, place your marbles bowl over the top, havee it stood up facing you, or off to your right, or off to yourleft - whatever takes your fancy. Choose which is best as an expression of that which you are unable to voice.

Do the cast....................

Good Luck

 

[Freedda]

Does it really matter that much? To my way of thinking it does.

Good morning My Key. I appreciate you responding, but I'm a bit confused, since it seems to me that you're suggesting two very different and opposite approaches: either to ask a very specific (and correct) question, or, to take a more open, non-specific, non-linear approach, which includes brainstorming, mind-mapping, random charting, colors ... and so forth?

Which is not to say that I think either one is correct or not, just that I'm not sure what you're proposing.

Best, D.

 

[my_key]

Hi David
I'm not saying that any one of them is correct either.
You asked "Any opinions, thoughts, suggestions? " - I have supplied all 3.
An opinion on the importance of the initial question.
You posted some options for questions that you were considering using - I gave my preference out of your proposals. ( more opinions and thoughts)
Then I offered an alternative method that I have used when I have been similarly lost / stuck and which by it's nature requires no question to be formed. You are 'not sure quite how to ask' so this was my suggestion.
I am not proposing anything about what is best for you just laying some words out on a table for you to consider.

Good Luck

 

[Freedda]

Hi David
I'm not saying that any one of them is correct either.
You asked "Any opinions, thoughts, suggestions? " - I have supplied all 3.

Okay, thanks for that clarification. I haven't decided how to pose this query just yet, but I like the idea of looking at photos while I cast - perhaps without a specific question in mind while I do so.

Here is another news story (from our local public radio station) about the Makah proposal:

After 20 years, Makah Tribe aims to harpoon gray whales again

Twenty years after its last successful whale hunt, the Makah Tribe is inching closer to getting to harpoon gray whales again off the Washington coast.

www.kuow.org

And the station also has this web site with a dozen or so historic photos of Makah whaling; many of these photos were taken by Asahel Curtis, brother to Edward Curtis.

PHOTOS: Makah Indian whale hunts

The Makah Tribe held a final hunt in 1999, but has not since practiced its whaling rights.

www.kuow.org

The sense I get (and maybe this is what you are saying also), is how a question is asked or how specific it needs to be depends a lot on what I'm looking to get out of it.

In this case, I'm not someone who is making a decision about the Makah whaling, nor am I asking if it's correct or moral, or whatever. Instead I'm perhaps looking to the Yi as a way of reflecting on the issue, maybe to find connections, or another way of seeing ... in which case a more non-specific approach seems fitting.

Best, D.