Know the Whale
MUCH OF THE WORK OF KNOWING the whale must take place before the April launch of the boat. Thus, between the midwinter solstice and the sounds of ice breaking in the Bering Sea, the Inuit planned their upcoming hunt meticulously.
We imagine that they analyzed the villagers to determine which of them would comprise the best possible team. They had to have strong, courageous people; an excellent fisherman, who could keep the crew fed during the trip; and people who would not give up, either in spirit or strength, for the hunt would be treacherous and, perhaps, deadly. In addition, they needed someone capable of taking on the exceedingly dangerous task of sewing the whale’s mouth shut. All these people had to be willing and able to work as a team under adverse conditions, and persevere in their quest for the whale. All members of the boat placed their lives in the care of the others.
The Inuit also reviewed what they knew about the ocean and the pods of whales that would be traveling toward the Arctic, and speculated whether the whales would be humpbacks, northern rights, or orcas. Each kind of whale required a different kind of hunt, so they mulled over the approach they would use for each; and within the kind, considered each individual whale, whether male or female. ...