Oregon Public Broadcasting

Two Makah Indian whale hunters are behind bars Tuesday morning.

They were jailed Monday immediately after a judge sentenced them for leading an illegal whale hunt last September. Correspondent Austin Jenkins has details.

“I don’t believe there is an ounce of remorse.” Those were the words of Judge Kelley Arnold as he sentenced Wayne Johnson to five months in prison for illegally killing a grey whale last fall.

Judge Arnold also sentenced Johnson’s 29-year old nephew, Andy Noel, to 90 days in jail.

The sentences were tougher than even the US Attorney’s office had asked for. Afterwards, Noel’s brother Joseph said the sentences ignored the Makah tribe’s historic right to hunt whales.

Andy Noel: “I think it’s kind of messed up. It is in our treaty that we can whale hunt. That’s our tradition. I don’t know. Sorry about the language I think it’s bull-**** that’s he’s getting hit with trying to follow tradition.”

Three other native men who played lesser roles in the hunt and pled guilty were sentenced to probation. All five were prosecuted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In addition to the punishment, the judge said they may not participate in any sanctioned whale hunts while they are on probation.