Okalik: Canada should stamp out fake aboriginal art industry

LINDSEY ARKLEY

SYDNEY, Australia — Australia has much to teach Canada about the protection and promotion of Aboriginal culture, Premier Paul Okalik said at an Aboriginal treaty conference in Sydney, Australia, last week.

Speaking on July 4, Okalik said Australia is now doing a better job than Canada in protecting indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights.

For example, an Australian system of labelling Aboriginal art works as authentic could be adopted in Canada, he said.

“At the moment, we see a lot of fake Inuit art, mainly carvings, that is being mass produced and sold to tourists who believe they’re buying actual Inuit carvings. Art work is potentially a very good income source in Inuit communities that don’t have a lot of opportunities, so it’s important that we stamp out this fake art industry,” Okalik said.

Under the widely used and nationally recognized Australian system, only registered Aboriginal artists or authorized manufacturers are able to place a “label of authenticity” on their works.

The scheme covers original paintings and carvings as well as reproductions on posters, clothing and wall-hangings.

“Such an idea has been presented over the years to the national government in Ottawa and there have been various reviews taken place, but I’ve yet to see a formal reply to all of this in Canada,” Okalik said.

“We’ve looked south of our border in the United States, where there is federal legislation covering protection of native art. But the most prominent and effective regime I’ve seen so far is the way Aboriginal art from Australia is nationally promoted and protected.”

Canada could also learn from Australia’s practice of promoting Aboriginal culture in its international tourism promotion campaigns, Okalik said.

“In Canadian marketing campaigns, there hasn’t been promotion of Inuit culture as part of the tourism experience, and I’d like to see that happen,” he said.

“At the moment it’s quite expensive for tourists to visit Nunavut, and we certainly need to do more work with the private sector to expand the existing limited facilities that we have to cope with tourists, but this could be done.

“I’ve learned about successful tourism ventures that have been undertaken in Aboriginal communities in northwest Australia that, like ourselves, are fairly remote.

“Their remoteness hasn’t stopped them from earning a good income from tourists and it shouldn’t stop us either.

“Promotion of Inuit culture to tourists also not only raises awareness, but it really helps the community in making sure the language and the culture survive, so that’s a benefit as well.”

Okalik was invited to Australia to address a conference called to discuss a proposal for the first treaty between Aboriginal and other Australians.

The treaty idea is being promoted by the country’s peak indigenous organization, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, but has yet to win any backing from Australia’s federal government.

While in Sydney, Okalik also attended a screening of Igloolik Isuma Production’s award-winning Inuit film, Atanarjuat, ahead of its commercial release in Australia later this year.