Close Reading: Heiltsuk relationship with the animals

CLOSE READING
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The nature of the Heiltsuk relationship with the animals is what I could refer to as utilitarian. This perception is based on the perception of the community towards the salmon fish. The Heiltsuk community sees no value in the salmon fish besides their food use(Heiltsuk Nation 2020). Moreover, society perceives fish as animals that should be natured and used for food. In this community, salmon fish is regarded as a valuable food. Moreover, gathering fish in large quantities earn a man a higher leadership position in this community. The story of the Heiltsuk suggests that fish could have a more excellent value besides their everyday use for food. However, the Heiltsuk community forgets to forecast the future concerning their activities. People from this community gather fish in large numbers, and they face the risk of running out of the salmon fish. Their archaeological sites are full of remains of salmon fish, which they take pride in as a way of paying respect. However, it would be more respectful to treat live salmons better when alive, and they would serve more importance to the lives of the Heiltsuk.
The utilitarian perspective involves the idea that animals are simply sources of food and have no additional benefit (Hill 2013). This perception is a stereotype adopted by the Heiltsuk since they express a sense of entitlement towards the salmon fish. The Heiltsuk think that they have sufficient fish to feed the community for a long time. The society believes that they are doing enough to take good care of their fish. The Heiltsuk community developed new methods to manage the salmons in their rivers. “Our success is reflected in the density of salmon bones in our archaeological sites and the abundance of salmon in our rivers” (Heiltsuk Nation 2020). From the article by Heiltsuk Nation, the salmons’ source in this community attracted people from distant places. Society depends significantly on the gathering of fish for their survival. Contrary to their perception of how they should relate with the animals, the salmons could still help if kept alive. The non-Utilitarian perspective shares the idea that animals could be treated with kindness and retained for other valuable uses. This theory argues that men and animals should relate as equals. This theory suggests that the Heiltsuk could still benefit from salmon if they regulated the number of fish that they consume as food. Moreover, different fish species could be kept in farms and interbred to produce a better quality of salmon breeds. The supply of fish could also be increased by taking good care of the fish that are available. Instead, the Heiltsuk do not see any benefits of keeping fish in farms. Their ignorance is illustrated when a man sends back fish into the water to be harvested later.
Contrary to their perception of how they should relate with the animals, the salmons could still help if kept alive. Erica Hill shares the idea that animals could have other valuable uses (Hill, 2013). This theory argues that men and animals should relate as equals. According to Hill, the equality between humans and animals is based on respecting both animal and human cultures. As much as humans gather fish, the animals deserve to...