Wrestling with whales

Jonathan Barrett, from Dover, Massachusetts, credits one of Lewis & Clark’s librarians for coming up with the topic for his history senior thesis. Jonathan is a double-major in English and history. The librarian, knowing of his interest in Native American literature and history, suggested that he research Washington’s Makah Indians and their controversial treaty rights to whaling. It was a hot topic in the news, and one that sparked Jonathan’s interest immediately.

As a student in Professor Steve Beckham’s History and Culture of American Indians course, Jonathan asked for suggestions on how to approach the subject. “After that, I was in Professor Beckham’s office two or three times a week,” he says. “With his expertise in Indian rights issues, Steve was an amazing resource. Working with him was a much more enriching experience than if I had been set loose in a large university to struggle on my own.”

Jonathan explored the National Archives in Seattle and visited the Makah Reservation on the Olympic Peninsula for insights into the issue. “My research led me to conclude that, although the Makah did not need whaling for subsistence, they did need it for the continued vitality of their culture,” says Jonathan. “It’s a conclusion I still wrestle with.”

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