The case of a US man caught with a walrus tusk statue in his trunk is shining a light on the debate over innu art exports some innuit artists say the restrictions are hurting their livelihood Matthew laer reports Reuben Anton kapic plans to carve this 1200lb whale skull into an ornate
Sculpture but he may never be able to sell it this whalebone is protected by an international treaty called cides which restricts the sale of art made from certain marine mammals that means it’s hard sometimes even impossible to export it’s really difficult because being an artist you you’re living pretty
Much on a piece to piece uh situation 2 years ago an American doctor tried to enter the US with a trunk full of statues purchased at this Montreal art gallery image Bal when border guards searched his car they found statues made of walrus tusk and sperm whale teeth
Items that can’t can’t be brought into the US the Border guard seized the statues but the doctor wanted them back a few days later he gave us authorities documents that showed the statues were carved before laws were passed restricting their sale and Export but US court documents say the gallery drew
Them up at the doctor’s request Canadian authorities have now charged the gallery with illegally selling sperm whale teeth and producing false documents they have yet to enter a plea their lawyer refused to comment the bone is from a boohead whale bone this missa wh Warehouse is
Full of Works made of bone they sit in storage because of how hard it is to find customers who can legally buy it the American clients who love the art and who wants to have the art but not able to import it to the country even
Though the rules are viewed by some as an inconvenience this conservationist says the laws are there for a reason the only way to assure that The Artisans will have something that they can carve is to protect the laws Inu artists say luciding the restrictions won’t lead to
An increase in animal deaths we hunt animals in a very respectful way we we hunt for what we need kapic says he’s going to continue carving bone even if it’s not easy to sell
A Montreal gallery that sells Inuit art is facing charges for allegedly selling pieces made from whales and other marine animals to an American who tried to take them into the U.S. The case is shining a light on strict export rules that some Inuit artists say are hurting them, even though their hunts are legal under Canadian law and done in a ‘respectful way.’
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