In these forums, Congressman Metcalf outlined his personal objection to the government-approved plans of the Neah Bay, Washington State Makah Indian Tribe to resume their age-old traditional Gray whale hunt. Mr. Lapointe noted that Metcalf inaccurately reported in Congress that the International Whaling Commission had ruled against the Makah plan. In actuality, the IWC approved the quota of 4 animals per year as a part of the quota of 140 Gray whales per year, which are allowed the Natives of the Russian Chuckchi Peninsula. 

Congressman Metcalf also objected to Makah whaling resumption on "cultural grounds," stating that it will give encouragement, not only to their relatives in British Columbia, but also to the Norwegians and Japanese, of whom he said, "If anybody has a cultural right to hunt whales, it is Japan and Norway. Whether or not the Makahs are justified in these claims, the real danger in allowing their hunt to go on is the encouragement it will give to others around the world." 

In his Speech, Metcalf complains that Japan and Norway "...continue to practice commercial whaling in violation of the IWC."  In so doing Lapointe charges that Metcalf has been deliberately misleading the public. Actually, Michael Canny, Chairman of IWC, during a briefing session with NGOs, in St-John, Antigua, 5 February 1998 said, "You have to understand that everything that Japan and Norway are doing under IWC, is perfectly legal." Lapointe says, "Congressman  Metcalf has been lying to the America public and to Congress for the twin purposes of fund-raising and his reelection campaign. 

Mr. Lapointe pointed out that the IWC has recognized the rights of certain aboriginal peoples around the world to harvest whales for their own nutritional and cultural use, and that this is entirely separate from any form of whaling, including the commercial whaling of the past. He noted that the U.S. government recognizes Makah whaling rights under the Treaty of Neah Bay,  similar to the rights of Native Alaskans who take some 50 Bowhead whales for their own use each year, also with the permission and blessing of the U.S. government and the International Whaling Commission. 

Metcalf's objection to the Makah's proposed use of Gray whales is based, not on a conservation concern, but on his apparently personal objection to whaling. Since the animals in question are not endangered, Lapointe said, Metcalf's re-election campaign drive, based on his position objecting to the Makah hunt,  "sounds more like blatant racism than anything else", and that the Congressman "sets a poor example for his Party, for the Congress, and for his country. He is a perfect example of what a politician should not be."  The Metcalf web site includes a fund raising plea for the 1998 election, based  on Metcalf's objections to Makah whaling. "Metcalf has fallen into the trap of animal-rightists for whom non-endangered whales are more important-form a fund-raising point of view-than endangered people and their traditions. While this behavior is natural for extreme NGOs, it constitutes a scandalous and immoral attitude on the part of a politician from a country so strong on human rights and so respectful of cultures and traditions." 

The IWMC World Conservation Trust position on whaling is that decisions on whaling must be based on scientific research and counsel, and that objections such as Metcalf's are counter-productive and not relevant in fair discussions on a global scale, within the framework of the International Whaling Commission.