Have a heart!
I read today that Michaelle Jean, Canada's Governor General, ate a raw seal heart when she visited a festival in Rankin Inlet, an Inuit community in Nunavut. Apparently, the EU voted to ban Canadian seal products recently, and an EU spokesman described the Governor General's actions as "too bizarre to acknowledge."
What a completely ignorant statement to make.
Mention seal hunting to most Europeans, and they will picture fluffy baby seals being clubbed over the head by unfeeling, profit seeking fishermen. Ask them what they think, and most will comment that such practices are inhumane and should be banned. Now, I must say that a few years ago I too would have been one of those Europeans, but living and working with the Inuit has changed my view on this issue.
The ability to hunt seal and other animals is what sustained the Inuit as a race for century upon century. Their meat and skins were absolutely vital for survival, and although all the trappings of the south are now readily available, the ability to hunt is still prized and cultivated amongst the people of the North. The notion of hunting is in the genes, and to use words such as 'bizarre' when talking about this subject is not just ignorant; it is insulting.
Whilst the encroachment of southern ways has brought many advantages to the North, the Inuit people have also been dealt many abuses, both psychologically and socially, as a result. Changes that took centuries to take hold in the south have been made in just a couple of generations in the North, so the maintenance of what is a strong cultural heritage should be encouraged. The eating of 'country food', as the Inuit refer to it, forms part of that heritage, and I count myself as fortunate to have first-hand experience, just as Michaelle Jean now has.
The motivation and methods of those that hunt seal for profit could, and perhaps should, be questioned. However, the hunting of seal in communities such as Rankin Inlet is of a completely different nature, and I would like to see that EU spokesman make a visit to the North so that in future his comments could be more informed. I doubt that will happen though; pigs will fly sooner.
Oh, but wait a minute - haven't we already had swine flu?
Did you see what I did there? 'Flu' sounds just like 'flew', and I was talking about pigs flying.....
Never mind.
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2 comments:
Aarghh! Here are some miscellaneous comments, in no particular order.
1)The level of ignorance is sickening.
2)I just wish the level of indignation of the animal rights groups was the same for all animals.
3)We never hear them cry about slaughtering cows, chicken, or pigs.... (pork chops...mmmmm argglgrlgl! Ok, calm down Homer!)
Newfoundlanders have also hunted seals for centuries. Seals were/are hunted for food and the hides are used as well. The seal herd off the coast of Nfld now numbers in the millions. Soon they will not be able to sustain themselves as the cod stocks dwindle with a seal herd out of control and European over-fishing. The hunting of seals is no different than any other animal. But, like Danny Williams said, red blood on white snow never looks good. Compared to veal, the seal hunt is humane. At least the seal actually lives before it is killed. To be against the seal hunt one must therefore be against the killing of all animals. Otherwise, why are seals so special?
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