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Jean's seal meal sparks feeding frenzy

WASHINGTON - To some, it was a stunning gesture to native tradition worthy of Chief Dan George.

To others, it was an act of rock-star audacity that awakened memories of grizzled old bat-muncher Ozzy Osbourne.

And to others still, it was just, well, gross.

However you view the spectacle of Governor General Michaëlle Jean gobbling seal heart raw in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, there is no denying the Queen's representative has found herself in the centre of the divisive, decades-old seal hunt controversy.

The political indigestion over Jean's meal of seal roiled loudest among animal-rights activists, who used the terms "Neanderthal" and "blood lust" yesterday to describe how the Governor General revelled in helping herself to the heart of the dripping carcass.

"It amazes us that a Canadian official would indulge such blood lust. It sounds like she's trying to give Canadians an even more Neanderthal image around the world than they already have," said Dan Mathews, vice-president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Jean was unapologetic, pronouncing her taste of seal heart to be "absolutely delicious," much to the delight of bloggers unaccustomed to such a high-profile public figure committing herself without so much as a hint of squeamishness.

"These are ancient practices that are part of a way of life," Jean said, framing her gutsy gesture as an act of solidarity with the Inuit. "If you can't understand that, you're completely missing the reality of life here."

But PETA officials said it was Jean who is missing reality.

"Our campaign is not to stop the native hunt, which accounts for only a very tiny part of Canada's seal slaughter," said Mathews.

"Far more than 90 per cent of the Canadian seal hunt is unrelated to the native peoples. What we want to stop is that huge commercial market that is all about selling baby seal skins to Norway, where they become fashion items for the Russian and Chinese markets," he said.

That doesn't mean animal-rights activists approve of Inuit seal-hunting traditions. PETA yesterday likened Jean's sampling of seal heart to "taking part in the beating of women in the Middle East because it is part of local practice.

"We acknowledge the native seal hunt is cultural. We give it a pass, even though we don't agree with it, because our campaign is against the commercial hunt. However much the Canadian government may want to hide behind the natives, the commercial hunt is the real issue here."

Jean helped to gut the seal before swallowing a slice of the mammal's heart, ignoring the European Union vote earlier this month to impose a ban on seal products on grounds the seal hunt is cruel.

Asked yesterday whether her actions were a message to Europe, Jean replied: "Take from that what you will."

A spokeswoman for EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas declined to react, saying: "No comment; it's too bizarre to acknowledge."

Anti-hunt campaigner Barbara Slee, an activist with the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Brussels, said Jean's gesture would do little to sway European opinion, which is firmly tilted against the annual Canadian seal cull.

"The fact that the Governor General in public is slashing and eating a seal, I don't think that really helps the cause and I'm convinced this will not change the mind of European citizens and politicians," said Slee.

Newfoundland sealer Jack Troake chuckled after hearing of Jean's actions. "That's great stuff," Troake said. "I hope the lady realizes that she's got herself into a hell of a mess ... You've got some of these environmentalists that are going to jump on her, but I think she's strong enough. She can take that, I think."

The Humane Society International also decried the gesture as a "repugnant attempt to legitimize" commercial sealing.

"Obviously, there is a tremendous public understanding of subsistence hunting in Inuit communities and nobody's opposing that," said Rebecca Aldworth, a Canadian spokeswoman for the U.S.-based humane society.

"But to try to benefit from an Inuit ceremony in terms of defending the broader commercial seal hunt is simply unacceptable."

A sampling of reaction at thestar.com showed hundreds of posters scrambling to weigh in before Toronto Star moderators called a halt to the frothing debate. One poster hailed Jean as a "true Canadian" and dismissed all who disagreed, writing, "Let them eat algae."

Another called Jean "an embarrassment."

The Humane Society International also decried the gesture as a "repugnant attempt to legitimize" commercial sealing.

"Obviously, there is a tremendous public understanding of subsistence hunting in Inuit communities and nobody's opposing that," said Rebecca Aldworth, a Canadian spokeswoman for the U.S.-based humane society.

"But to try to benefit from an Inuit ceremony in terms of defending the broader commercial seal hunt is simply unacceptable."

"The fact that the Governor General in public is slashing and eating a seal, I don't think that really helps the cause and I'm convinced this will not change the mind of European citizens and politicians," said Slee.

Jean helped to gut the seal before swallowing a slice of the mammal's heart, ignoring the European Union vote earlier this month to impose a ban on seal products on grounds the seal hunt is cruel.

"Our campaign is not to stop the native hunt, which accounts for only a very tiny part of Canada's seal slaughter," said Mathews.

"Far more than 90 per cent of the Canadian seal hunt is unrelated to the native peoples. What we want to stop is that huge commercial market that is all about selling baby seal skins to Norway, where they become fashion items for the Russian and Chinese markets," he said.

"We acknowledge the native seal hunt is cultural. We give it a pass, even though we don't agree with it, because our campaign is against the commercial hunt. However much the Canadian government may want to hide behind the natives, the commercial hunt is the real issue here."

"It amazes us that a Canadian official would indulge such blood lust. It sounds like she's trying to give Canadians an even more Neanderthal image around the world than they already have," said Dan Mathews, vice-president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Jean was unapologetic, pronouncing her taste of seal heart to be "absolutely delicious," much to the delight of bloggers unaccustomed to such a high-profile public figure committing herself without so much as a hint of squeamishness.

Royal_Foxx wrote:PETA= People Eating Tasty Animals.

Tyyr wrote: Neanderthal? NEANDERTHAL? Have you had their bacon? It's fantastic! Hockey! Ok they have a wierd accent but so does like 90% of the world.

"Our purpose isn't to stop the native hunt" - just to demonize anyone who celebrates native culture, I guess.

Cpl Kendall wrote:There is no "Canadian accent" anymore then there is an American one. I've been from one end to the other and there are a bunch of different ones in each Province, hell there's three different ones within 200 kms of me.

Tyyr wrote:

Cpl Kendall wrote:There is no "Canadian accent" anymore then there is an American one. I've been from one end to the other and there are a bunch of different ones in each Province, hell there's three different ones within 200 kms of me.

It was a stupid American joke.

Cpl Kendall wrote:Yeah I know, we make the same one about you guys. Especially the southerners...