Export/Import of Inuit Eskimo Art Sculpture Containing Whalebone or Ivory

The export of certain Inuit sculpture from Canada to other parts of the world including the United States does have some restrictions. In order to reduce harvesting of marine animals such as whales and walruses, the United States Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. It was later modified in 1981 and a special section (101) of the act was developed to exclude Eskimo Inuit and other aboriginals living in the state of Alaska. Section 101 allowed Alaskan Natives to continue their traditions of hunting marine mammals for food and using parts of such animals as raw materials in the making of clothes, crafts and artwork.

The act makes it illegal for American citizens to import any ivory or whalebone from outside the United States. Therefore, American citizens would not be allowed to purchase any artwork containing ivory or whalebone from Canada and have it brought or shipped back to the United States. However, the act as it stands allows American citizens to purchase similar artwork from Alaska since it is part of the United States. The export of such artwork created from marine mammals from the United States to Canada is not allowed.

Inuit sculpture containing whalebone, walrus or narwal tusks (both considered ivory) are restricted from import and export. However, Inuit sculpture containing caribou antler is allowed since caribou is not a marine mammal and therefore does not fall under this act.

Exporting Inuit sculpture containing whalebone or ivory from Canada to other international destinations will depend on each specific country as each has its own specific regulations. Fines or penalties for importing or exporting illegal items can be very severe.

Fortunately, other forms of Inuit art such as stone or antler carvings and prints are not only able to be exported across the border, but are actually duty free.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery (http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca), an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

---

Authenticity of Eskimo Inuit Art & Native Indian Art

Both Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art have gained international recognition as valuable art forms over the past few decades. However, the rising popularity of both... Read More

Feng Shui Horoscopes

A great tool to help you find out more about yourself.Chinese feng shui horoscope is based on twelve animals which represent you depending on the year you... Read More

Christopher Columbus

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: - It seems a mystery to most academics why the governments who are based on Manifest Destiny and the 'colon'-ization of the world by Christophe... Read More

Violence

Flashes of memory stream into my consciousness. They take me back thirty years plus. I was a boy then, a newcomer to a poor and tough neighborhood.... Read More

Copper Keels and Red Ochre

Copper Keels:Nature provides varying resources in different parts of the world. In Ireland the use of leather in boat-building made sense. Leather craft going underwater led to... Read More

Insider Tips to Quadruple Your Art Show Sales

At a recent art show, I could not help but notice that not everyone's day was going as well as mine! As I experienced a constant stream... Read More

Synchronized Swimming, Dolphin Cognition and Visualization

As humans become more technologically advanced and are able to see our environments from the outside looking in, we gather insight to our 3D space that we... Read More

How Many Chinese Characters Are There?

Let's trace the number of Chinese characters from Han Dynasty 汉朝 (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.)说文解字 (Shuwenjiezhi) - The first complete dictionary that listed all Chinese character... Read More

The Automatic Champion

"Babe" Didrickson Zaharias was a phenomenal athlete. This Texan ran, jumped, rode horses, and played basketball and baseball-with tremendous flair.In the Olympic tryouts in 1932, she won... Read More

A Brief Biography of Rene Boissevain the Agate Adventurer and Creator of The Crystal Caves Museum

In 1964 myself (René), Nelleke my wife, and our daughter Iefje emigrated from Holland to Australia. I was 29 years old and Nelleke a few years younger.We... Read More

A Look at the Heart of American Beauty

Sam Mendes' darkly comic portrayal of suburbia in his first movie, American Beauty (1999) takes a hard look at what happens when you've accomplished the American Dream... Read More

Can You Hear My Secret Calling

A true love story"So, was it an eyes-meet-across-the-room-thing and you knew you were destined for each other instantly?" I asked my Mom. "No," she laughed, "it was... Read More

Egyptian Hanmde Galabeya (Galabia)

The Bedouin culture has a long history of beautiful costumes, textiles and Jewelry. The Bedouin costume has not changed in a thousand years, and the Bedouins today... Read More

How to Clean Your Civil War Uniform

How necessary is cleaning your Civil War Uniform?The every day Confederate or Union soldier's uniform was actually never made to be washed. They wore out so fast... Read More

Opal Jewelry -- Your Own Personal Piece of Rainbow

Opal is a magnificent gemstone whose shades encompass virtually every hue in the color spectrum. The play of color is different on every stone, and its shimmering... Read More

Archaeology and Spirit Guides

One of the northern derivatives of Hopewell of interest to a few scholars is the anomalous Effigy Mound culture of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. The remains attract... Read More

Creating a Virtual Art Gallery

To the online artist, it might seem a paradox, at first glance, to hear a recommendation to hold back work. The artist on the Internet often overproduces... Read More

Progress Versus Perfection

From the creative explosion marking the outset of the universe to our advanced human stage in evolution, some fifteen billion years have elapsed. This advanced stage refers... Read More

Learn How to Solve Problems With a Feng Shui Mirror

A mirror, when becoming a feng shui mirror, can be used to many more things than allowing us to see how we look. Feng shui teaches how... Read More

Painting Philosophy of Peruvian Artist

LifeI paint with an emphasis on expressing LIFE (the spirit and the soul) which is the expression of my love for the natural world and its creatures.... Read More

Paul Hamm: Did He Deserve Gymnastics Gold in 2004?

What was the controversy all about?In the 2004 Olympics, an all-star group of athletes from around the world gathered together to compete for titles in gymnastics. In... Read More

How I lost A million Dollars In A Bank Robbery

The Million dollars was my life-savings earmarked for prime the pump money for my biotech start-up. I am the Gerald Armstrong the owner of Gen Cells Cures?Gen... Read More

Spain´s Flag - A Red And Yellow Beauty

Spain´s flag (the national one) is as colorful as the country itself with its red and yellow horizontal triband.The yellow stripe is in the middle and is... Read More

Sterling Silver Jewelry - The Rest Of The Story

Silver is widely diffused but is rarely found in the native state.Silver is originally as widespread as gold, occurring in nearly all of the volcanic rocks. Whereas... Read More

American Citizenship

Can We Pass The Test?American CitizenshipI'm the daughter of an American soldier and with that comes pride of my American heritage, and love and pride for our... Read More

King Tuts Tomb was No Better - Found in America

Between 603 and 702 AD. a truly marvelous temple was built by the Mayan people to honour a non-Mayan, non-Indian man. The firsthand account of Alberto Ruz... Read More