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