Is anyone else out there confused by the Ninth Circuit Court ruling on the Makah whaling issue?
For the purposes of gambling, liquor, tobacco, fireworks, fish and shellfish, the Ninth Circuit has ruled that treaties give Indian tribes the status of seperate nations exempt from State and Federal laws and regulations.
Now the Ninth has ruled that although the Makah Tribe has a treaty that specifically allows them to take whales and they have received permits to take whales, not only from the United States but also from the International whaling commission, they must comply with State and Federal environmental and endangered species laws.