ABSTRACT Harritt, McCartney, Bodenhorn OPP-9528073. This small grant for exploratory research is intended to bring the PIs together with the Alaska Native Whaling Commission and the North Slope Borough History, Language and Culture Commission for purposes of research planning and coordination. The focus will be on prehistoric and contemporary whaling practices and cultures. Among the primary questions to be addressed are the environmental contexts within which whaling originated and developed, the varied importance of whaling through time, oral traditions, gender roles, and ceremonialism. This combination of scientific expertise with Native interests has great potentials and is in keeping with the goal of creating research partnerships with native peoples. ??
