Which whales have they hunted for thousands of years?

• A. Blue whales
• B. Humpback whales
• C. Bowhead whales
• D. Gray whales

Answer: (C)

Arctic Indigenous whaling centers on the bowhead whale because these whales migrate along Arctic coastlines in predictable, seasonal patterns that make them a reliable subsistence resource. For thousands of years, communities such as the Iñupiat and Yupik have developed skilled methods—using sturdy boats, harpoons, and lines—to harvest bowheads during their migrations. Their enormous blubber and baleen provide essential resources: oil for lamps, food, and materials for clothing and tools. The practice is deeply woven into seasonal camps, ceremonies, and shared harvesting, so bowhead hunting has long stood as a central, enduring tradition in Alaska Native lifeways.