| Both Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art have | | | | imitation and reproduction piece sold. However, this is |
| gained international recognition as valuable art forms | | | | seldom the case since most of the time, no royalties |
| over the past few decades. However, the rising | | | | are paid at all. |
| popularity of both Inuit Eskimo art and Native | | | | The obvious fakes can be spotted quite easily. An |
| American art has resulted in the increased | | | | imitation of an Inuit Eskimo art carving spotted at a |
| proliferation of imitations and mass-produced | | | | gift shop was not made of stone as it was not cold |
| reproductions of original Native arts. Some obvious | | | | to the touch. It was very light in weight unlike a |
| fakes are made in Asia from molds where the | | | | stone which has some mass to it. The detail and the |
| finished pieces are forms of plastic, resin or ceramic. | | | | bottom of the piece had the molded look to it. There |
| Other fakes are actually made of cast stone | | | | was even a sticker on the bottom with the company |
| simulating actual Inuit Eskimo art carvings and wood | | | | name Wolf Originals. Side by side comparisons of |
| for imitation Native American carvings. These fakes, | | | | similar pieces in the souvenir store revealed that they |
| which are harder to distinguish from authentic | | | | were all identical in every detail, which is impossible |
| artwork, are often hand carved reproductions of an | | | | for original artwork. |
| original piece of artwork. Workshops have illegally | | | | A black totem pole had a very flat uniform back and |
| reproduced hundreds of copies without the artisan's | | | | bottom again giving away the fact that it came from |
| permission. The counterfeiting companies would then | | | | a mold. Other totem poles made from wood or |
| attach some type of tag that claims the fake pieces | | | | mixed wood with a claim that they were hand |
| were influenced by aboriginal artisans and even | | | | painted were among many similar pieces in the store. |
| background information on the Native designs used in | | | | All of these examples were each priced less than $20 |
| the artwork. Some even go as far as adding in Inuit | | | | Canadian which was another indicator that they were |
| syllabics on the bottom of the fake Inuit Eskimo art | | | | not original artwork. |
| carvings. | | | | Imitations of Inuit Eskimo art sculptures were |
| These are very deceptive tactics on their part since | | | | recently spotted for sale in shops located at major |
| they give the consumers the impression that the | | | | Canadian airports. From a distance, these Inuit Eskimo |
| imitations are authentic and income producing for the | | | | art sculptures of hunters, polar bears and Inuit |
| aboriginal communities. | | | | women with children looked very authentic. However, |
| Fakes and imitations have lowered the image of | | | | each piece had several identical copies on the same |
| authentic Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art. | | | | shelf. |
| Sales of genuine aboriginal artwork have declined | | | | To avoid accidentally buying a fake or imitation, it is |
| which in turn have deprived aboriginal artisans of | | | | suggested that consumers buy Inuit Eskimo art and |
| income. The argument against these claims is that | | | | Native American art from only reputable galleries and |
| not every consumer can afford to buy authentic | | | | dealers rather than from tourist souvenir shops. A |
| Inuit Eskimo art or Native American art so the | | | | piece of original, authentic Inuit Eskimo art or Native |
| souvenir level reproductions legitimately meet this | | | | American art is one of a kind. There should be no |
| part of the market. The imitations, which are usually | | | | other identical pieces on the shelves. In addition, |
| low priced, enable students visiting Canada for | | | | original Inuit Eskimo art carvings should come with an |
| example, to bring home a Canadian souvenir without | | | | Igloo tag (or sticker) which is a Canadian government |
| breaking their travel budget. This claim would have | | | | registered trademark. Inuit Eskimo art carvings that |
| more support from Native communities if aboriginal | | | | are certified by the Canadian government to be |
| artisans were paid a fair royalty as income for each | | | | handmade by Inuit artisans, come with Igloo tags. |