Traditional Native arts and handicrafts are a unique and important part of the Alaska economy, particularly in rural areas. As a part of Alaska's vibrant tourism industry, many buyers of traditional arts/crafts come from abroad or travel from the lower 48 states through Canada to reach Alaska. Because some of the wildlife materials used in these items originate from regulated or protected species, the trade of many traditional Native art forms is highly regulated.

This guide aims to help you understand those laws. It provides country-by-country and material-by-material information for a number of key markets.

For shopkeepers, we hope this guide will help you better serve your customers, whether they be foreign or U.S. visitors or those purchasing Alaska Native arts over the internet that may need to be exported.

For artists, we hope this guide will help you determine what wildlife materials are most suitable for developing sales to international visitors. See the "other country" section under the "country information" for this purpose.

Additional information is available from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Contact Information

When shopping for Native arts, remember to look for the Silver Hand logo, your assurance that the item is an authentic work by an Alaska Native.

For more information on the Silver Hand program, contact the Alaska State Council on the Arts, Phone: (907) 269-6610/1-888-278-7424. Email: aksca_info@eed.state.ak.us or webpage: www.eed.state.ak.us/aksca