and
natural substitutes (tegu nut). The ivory found in Alaska Native handicrafts
is generally of two types: mammoth and mastodon tusks, and walrus tusks
and teeth.
Mammoth
and Mastodon Ivory
Mammoth and mastodon ivory are legal to export in personal baggage. Since these species are extinct, they are not protected by U.S. wildlife law. No paperwork is required to export mammoth or mastodon ivory to any country. However, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) prohibits their collection on public land. Before buying, ask how the ivory was acquired to determine if the ivory may have come from an illegal dig or excavation.
Walrus
Ivory
Antique or fossilized walrus ivory can be worked by non-Natives. However, raw walrus ivory harvested after the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, December 21, 1972, can only be sold by an Alaska Native to an Alaska Native within Alaska, or to a registered agent for resale or transfer to an Alaska Native within Alaska. This ivory can only be sold or transferred to non-Natives as authentic Native articles of handicraft or clothing. Polishing or carving initials or a signature on ivory does not qualify it as a Native handicraft.
Walrus are protected under both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Appendix III of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). The Marine Mammal Protection Act came into effect on December 21, 1972. Walrus were added to CITES as Appendix III on November 16, 1975 by Canada. For export purposes, if the ivory in the authentic Native handicraft predates December 21, 1972, the item requires a pre-convention CITES certificate, which costs $75. If the ivory is postdates December 21, 1972, a CITES/MMPA export permit, which costs $100.
To obtain a pre-convention CITES certificate or a Marine Mammal/CITES export permit. Be advised this process can take 4-8 weeks and costs $75 to $100 for the certificate/permit. Only the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Virginia may issue these. Please contact: USFWS, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203 or by phone at (800) 358-2104.
A number of souvenir shops in Alaska have forms available that are entitled "CITES Personal Property Exemption," certifying that an item is an authentic Alaska Native Handicraft purchased in Alaska. These forms should only be used for U.S. citizens transiting through Canada to the lower 48 and only serves as a proof of purchase. Take note that walrus ivory purchased in Canada cannot be imported into the U.S. U.S. citizens transiting Canada with their authentic Native Alaskan walrus ivory handicrafts need to make sure they have a proof of purchase from Alaska.
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