Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 19, 2007

INUVIK - Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but when it comes to traditional art, there are also negative implications.

Gayle Gruben holds a piece of traditional Inuvialuit art by Ella Nasogaluak. Gruben said she's annoyed that many companies sell "knock-off" pieces of art, which often imitate the traditional style. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

Let's say you're a tourist visiting Inuvik and you decide to buy an inuksuk-patterned wallet.

How much are you willing to pay?

Your decision has implications reaching far across the global economy.

At the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation store in Inuvik, such wallets sell for about $50.

Down the street at Originals on Mackenzie, one can buy a similar inuksuk-beaded wallet for $13.

While they look similar, the difference is inexpensive Asian factory labour.

Gayle Gruben, who is office manager at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, said she's annoyed by foreign-made inuksuk art.

"I personally don't like the fact we have knock-off Inuit art out there. It gives a false impression that it's made here," she said.

She added she formerly worked in Ottawa and helped lobby the Parliamentary gift shop to stop selling knock-off Inuit carvings.

"Everything we sell is from the settlement region, straight from the crafters themselves," she added of IRC.

Glenna Inglangasuk, who works at the Northern Images store, said it also carries the work of local crafters.

But the store also sells keychains and souvenirs featuring Arctic icons such as inuksuks.

These plastic and metal keychains retail for about $6, which is less than most other items in the store.

"In the summer, a lot of the tourists don't have a lot of money," she said, meaning they'll pick up a keychain as a souvenir but not a $300 whalebone carving or $600 sealskin vest.

Arlene Hansen, who operates the Originals on Mackenzie store - which sells everything from Christmas decorations to jewelry to board games, crystals, flags and mittens - says she makes it a point to tell customers that some of her goods are made in China.

"There are some people who will spend $80 on a beaded debit card holder, but those are people who appreciate the quality and the workmanship," she said.

"With (the wallets) I sell, the workmanship is not at the same level. But some people are in the market for a $13 wallet."

Hansen added her store carries sculptures, wall art and other items made in the region.

But as traditional artists don't use a mass industrialized process, their works are more unique and therefore more expensive.

"I carry them (Chinese-made wallets) but I tell people it's not made locally," she said.

"So long as you're honest with people they understand."