Recently Ellen DeGeneres took a selfie at the Oscars and it was used by her to raise money, $1.5 million, to be given to an anti-seal hunt organization. Every time the DeGeneres selfie was tweeted Samsung would donate to a charity of her choice, which went to the Humane Society of the United States, which according to the Calgary Sun campaigns regularly against the seal hunt in Canada.
DeGeneres' website for her daytime show calls the seal hunt: "one of the most atrocious and inhumane acts against animals allowed by any government."
In response to this many Inuit peoples have posted what they call "sealfies." They are either wearing or are displaying clothing made from seal pelts, while in some cases photos of them even skinning and butchering the seals were shared.
There are always people who don't respect rules and even in southern Saskatchewan you hear of people poaching animals, that's a problem. But, hunting seals is essentially the same thing as hunting deer or geese. There's a season which opens and it is regulated.
For the seal hunt in Canada, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans monitors the hunt, while studying the seal population at large and it also works alongside the Canadian Sealers' Association to ensure sealers are aware of laws and are conscious of their practices, whether an Inuit or a commercial hunter.
For many in the north this is not just a pastime though, like hunting or fishing is for most people. Often the acts are considered hobbies, but for many people in northern Canada sealing is a way of life.
The Inuit people are continuing their ancestral practices of hunting seal and utilizing it in every possible way. Their skins are turned into clothing, which for the Arctic is perfectly suited to the environment. Seal is both warm and water proof, which I don't think technology has developed a true replacement for this. After skinning the animal, the Inuit people also use the meat as a staple in their diet. In addition to this the animals fat can be used as lamp fuel or cooking oil, which for those speaking against DeGeneres' words demonizing the seal hunt are relevant.
Considering the seal hunt is an integral part of the Inuit's lifestyle they grow up able to see them as food. It's the same way I can pet a calf, but go and eat veal later. I personally love animals, but in every culture there become ones that you can care for immensely and still feel alright about eating them.
For example when I travelled to Australia we were on an Air China flight, which the flight attendant asked us if we wanted beef or dog for supper. Obviously I wanted beef, but sat there thinking what if they gave me the wrong meal? So, I just ate the rice and vegetables, especially after I chewed a piece that seemed too tough to be beef. To me dogs are pets, they are man's best friend, and a cow is a cute animal that I will eventually eat. This is part of our culture though.
I do think that Degeneres was likely demonizing the commercial act of sealing. Although, whether she was or was not the fact remains that many Inuit people were offended by her words because it is their way of life and is something they have done for nearly 4,000 years.
So, although I do think Degeneres was speaking to the commercial seal hunt she was insensitive to the entire Inuit culture. She did not make an effort to separate the two, which maybe she did mean to include the entirety of the hunt, but to completely disregard a culture is reminiscent of attitudes during residential school times.
Maybe more sanctions are needed on the seal hunt, but if the seal populations are being monitored and they are following proper practices in hunting the animals then I don't see a huge issue surrounding the topic. Just as when taking hunters' safety you're taught to shoot the deer through the lungs and heart, a similar quick kill must be taught to sealers which would leave the animal to a swift death with little pain.
