Thousands enjoy Makah traditional feast

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The Makah Nation treated thousands of guests to a traditional meal of salmon, halibut and whale meat on May 22, in celebration of the resurrected tradition of whaling.

At least 3,000 guests arrived from as far north as Alaska and as far south as the Fiji Islands. A few hundred Nuu-chah-nulth guests were in attendance to partake in what, for most, would be their first taste of whale meat.

Makah received their name from neighboring tribes. Makah means generous with food. They could not have had a more fitting name on their day of celebration as each and every guest was served a heaping plate of seafood. Dinner songs were sung, thanking the Creator for all that was being offered.

There were so many people that feasting was done in shifts. The tables and bleachers were full. At the same time people were lined up around the gymnasium and out the door. More people were milling around outside.

Guests waiting for seats were invited to a nearby beach for steamed clams and oysters. Makah men filled a large sandpit with hot coals topped with shellfish. They steamed 1,100 lb. of clams and 400 lb. of oysters this way.

Those that stayed in the gym waiting for whale meat missed out on the shellfish feast. It was worth it all in the end, when I was offered a handful of roasted whale meat. This was the first time that I would taste whale meat, a food that I, as a Nuu-chah-nulth person, should have been brought up on. The meat looked somewhat like dark chicken meat. To me, it smelled and tasted like corned beef.

It is hard to describe my feelings after tasting the roasted whale meat. I was proud to be Nuu-chah-nulth-aht. I was relieved that, at least once in my lifetime, I would enjoy whale meat. So many other Nuu-chah-nulth people have passed on without having had the opportunity to share in what was a most integral part of our culture - the whale. I felt honored.

Our hosts also served boiled whale meat, cooked and raw blubber. The boiled meat tasted like seal meat to me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The blubber, however, was a different story.

I picked up my raw piece of blubber and warily looked it over. It was thinly sliced, cold and light pink. I told myself that I would never know if I liked it or not unless I tried it. I put a small corner of the blubber in my mouth and bit down. It was rubbery and impossible to bite through. It tasted neither good nor bad to me.

Along with the whale meat, our Makah hosts served salmon and halibut, cooked to perfection. We were also offered salads, fresh vegetables and fruit.

I cannot thank the Makah people enough for allowing me to share in the "Back to Tradition" feast. They have given me treasured memories and renewed pride in being a Nuu-chah-nulth person. Kleco, Kleco!