United States, Alaska, Barrow, 2010 / Barrow lies more than 400 kilometres above the arctic circle and is the northernmost point in the United States.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / Barrow is the centre of the traditional whale hunt. Eighty percent of the population is Inupiat, or native, as the Americans say.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, 2010 / The place consists mainly of dilapidated barracks and houses and is abounds with large modern pick-up trucks.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / For this autumn hunt, twelve Bowhead whales may be harpooned. The first whale is brought in. Several boats rush to help to get the whale on to dry land. Depending on the boat’s precise position, it can take hours to drag the animal ashore.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / Two dumper trucks are ready to drag the whale on to the beach.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / Gigantic strips of skin, blubber and meat are dragged to various places on the landing strip. The whale is shared among the population according to centuries-old principles.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / The sharing of the meat is a binding element in society. One part is for all the captains and their crews, one part is for the community and one part is for the successful captain himself.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / As soon as the captain appears on the beach with his crew, there is cheering and the people gratefully start to hug each other. The flag of the successful Panigeo crew is flown. Many people help to drag the whale on to its side.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / During the actual slaughter, there are now more than thirty-five men involved.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, 2010 Sharing the meat
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010
United States, Alaska, Barrow, 2010 Cemetery
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010 / The meat is cooked on five large burners. The meat is then placed outside in large dishes in order to cool down. Then the meat, the muktuk (skin and blubber) and the intestines are distributed into bags. At 23:30, the women are ready with the cooking and the distribution of the meat. Via the radio, an announcement is made that the crew is ready to serve the meat. All the inhabitants of Barrow come by with their congratulations and in order to pick up a bag of meat.
United States, Alaska, Barrow, October 2010