In 2014, to help address these concerns, Aboriginal Tourism of British Columbia launched the Authentic Indigenous Arts Resurgence Campaign to promote and support artworks produced by members of the indigenous peoples in British Columbia, Canada.
As explained on the campaign’s website, the aim of the campaign is to help consumers make informed choices in their purchases of indigenous art and gift products and to help ensure that the sale of these works provides direct economic benefits to indigenous artists and their communities.
The campaign has developed a logo, shown below, which is registered as a trade mark in Canada – TMA907022.
Indigenous artists, resident in British Columbia, can register with Aboriginal Tourism BC and then use labels featuring the logo on their products.
The campaign categorises products into three tiers: a first tier where the products are designed, produced and distributed by indigenous artists or businesses; a second tier of products that are designed, approved and distributed by indigenous artists, but may be manufactured by non-indigenous peoples or businesses; and a third tier of products that bear the artwork of an indigenous artist, who has been compensated for their work and has approved the final design, but the producer or distributor may not be of indigenous ancestry.
As Shain Jackson, a Coast Salish artist, explained, the requirement that an indigenous artist approve the product ensures “you’re not getting a sacred design printed on a shot glass”.
David Fyfield is an associate with Charles Russell Speechlys in London and a member of the MARQUES IP Outer Borders Team
Issue 069
Events lined up in the coming months include three workshops on the USPTO, an arbitration/mediation workshop and the second Luxury Brand Seminar
