Analysis Of Hunting And Morality As Elements Of Traditional Ecological Knowledge

In Nicholas Reo and Kyle Whyte’s “Hunting and Morality as Elements of Traditional Ecological Knowledge”, they discuss the implications of the Lac du Flambeau (LDF) Ojibwe hunters’ adoption of modern technology in hunting on indigenous traditions and the natural world surrounding this tribe. They delve deeper into this topic by discussing the controversy surrounding American Indian hunters transitioning from traditional longbows to rifles for hunting. Throughout the article, Reo and Whyte claim that for American Indians, hunting is not simply the act of killing animals for food, but it is a complex practice embedded in their culture, spirituality, and livelihood. Additionally, the article states that considerations such as efficiency, values,

American Indian hunters, as based on the Lac du Flambeau (LDF) Ojibwe community in the study, primarily engage in hunting for subsistence, culture, and spiritual beliefs. To start, hunting is an essential subsistence activity for certain American Indian tribes, providing a reliable source of food for the hunters themselves, their families, and their community. Reo and Whyte note that although LDF hunters express excitement about the possibility of harvesting large trophy bucks, their primary focus is on “harvesting meat as a nutritious food source” (20). Additionally, most hunters in the LDF community provide deer meat to multiple nuclear families, with some hunters expressing that their primary reason for hunting is to provide deer meat, fish, and other harvested foods to those in need and those who do not have an active hunter within their family and community (20). Thus, unlike typical American hunting practices, American Indians do not think of hunting as a sport or game but primarily as a source of subsistence. Along with subsistence, hunting carries immense cultural significance, functioning as a means of teaching and upholding traditional values, respect for nature, and communal responsibility. The First Harvest Ceremony illustrates this role vividly, where young hunters are introduced to important community values surrounding hunting, including safety, respect, and sharing (20-21). In addition, the hunting tradition itself includes the practice of gifting one's first harvested deer to the community and having a sense of responsibility to provide meat for communal ceremonies and events (21). Finally, hunting is intricately linked to spiritual beliefs and ceremonial practices within these communities. Evidence of this is seen in the taboo against hunting or consuming one's