Print Policy

The Sealaska Heritage Institute Mission is “To Perpetuate and Enhance the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Cultures. The Goals of the Sealaska Heritage Institute Native Artist Markets are:

1. To support the perpetuation of Southeast Alaska Native art tradition with the quality and aesthetic forms that gave rise to its distinction;
    

2. To promote the production of those Southeast Alaska Native art forms which are endangered;
    

3. To encourage the creativity and evolution of Southeast Alaska Native arts;
    

4. To stimulate better craftsmanship;
    

5. To create a broader market for Southeast Alaska Native artists;
    

6. To protect the authenticity of Southeast Alaska Native Arts by Native Artisans; and,
    

7. To create a Native Artist Databank of Southeast Alaska Native Artists

SHI Native Artist Market and participants shall comply with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (PL 101-644) which makes it unlawful to display for sale or to sell any product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product of a particular Indian tribe or Indian arts and craft organization.  The law further provides that the term “Indian” means any individual who is a member of a federally or state recognized  Indian Tribe or is certified as a Native artisan by an Alaska Native Tribe. 

SHI Native Artist Market and participants shall comply with Southeast Alaska Native traditional laws in respecting clan ownership of crests, names, songs and other such cultural and intellectual property of clans. 

SHI Native Artist Market and participants shall also comply with applicable federal, state, local and tribal laws and tax codes.
 

Eligibility
In accordance with the Indian Arts and Craft Act, SHI recognizes the following as eligible to participate in www.AlaskaNativeArtists.com:

1. Alaska Natives who are defined as “Native” under the Alaska Native Settlement Act, 443 U.S.C.A. 1602(b), and enrolled to an Alaska Native Corporation; or
    

2. Descendants of Alaska Natives enrolled to an Alaska Native Corporation,  whether or not they own Corporation stock; or
    

3. Alaska Natives and Native Americans who are members of an ANCSA corporation or Indian tribe or who are certified as a Native artisan by an Alaska Native Tribe. 

Artists must provide the following documents:

1. Native Corp. Shareholder I.D. Card; or
    

2. Tribal Enrollment Card; or
    

3. Certificate of Indian Blood

Artwork & Materials
Only original, hand-made artworks, objects or items produced solely by the applicant Native or Indian Artisan, as defined above, may be displayed or sold

Pieces of art submitted to www.AlaskaNativeArtists.com must be based on traditional Native art forms. Contemporary work based on traditional Native art forms is acceptable

No objects made from commercial kits, molds or mass produced products including machine-printed T-shirts may be sold.

Material necessary for the production of Alaska Native art objects may be sold by Natives or Indians as defined above (excluding website).

Possession and sale of migratory bird feathers or parts is prohibited by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Eagle Feathers may be possessed, used, & displayed by Native Americans with a permit issued by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, but may not be sold, traded, or bartered.

Authentic items containing material from Polar bear, Porpoise, Sea Otter, Seal, Sea-lion, Walrus, Whale and other species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, are allowed to be possessed, purchased, or sold only if created by  Native Artists as defined above and only if the restricted material has been significantly altered in a manner consistent with traditional Native arts.
 

SHI Native Artist Market Standards
No Dealers, traders or agents may participate in the SHI Native Artist Market

Artist must sign a SHI Waiver/Release Statement

Artists must provide a copy of their business license for participation in the Celebration Market

Artists must provide a biography for inclusion in the SHI Artists Data Bank or web site

Display and sale of objects must be limited to the confines of your table area or designated space, if applicable

All Artists must provide their own table covering and display stands, if applicable

Overnight storage is not provided

Food preparation or sales are not permitted unless prepared & packaged at a location certified by FDA standards, if applicable

The Native Artist Market is alcohol and drug free

Artists will be admitted one hour prior to the posted public opening time for set-up & one hour after closing for clean-up, if applicable

SHI is not liable for lost or damaged art mailed to the institute by artists

Fees Per Artist

1. Celebration
   Artists must pay a fee of $300 fifteen days prior to the Celebration Market for one table and two chairs.  Artists who participate in the Sealaska Juried Art Show and Competition are eligible for a fee of $150.00
    

2. www.AlaskaNativeArtists.com
   Artists agree that SHI will receive a 20% (percent) commission of the sale price of each art object sold
    

3. Christmas Gallery Walk
   Artists agree to pay a fee of $25 per table
    

4. Juried Art Show
   Artists must submit a non-refundable application fee of $25
    

5. Artist Demonstration
   Artists agree to pay either $100 or 10% (percent) commission of the sale price of each art object sold
    

6. Other SHI Sponsored Events
   To be determined upon a case-by-case basis
    

SHI reserves the right to deny participation in its Native Artist Markets if artists fail to comply with the Native Artist Policy and Standards as outlined above or for any other reason. Please mail any requests for appeal to the SHI president to Sealaska Heritage Institute, One Sealaska Plaza, Suite 201, Juneau, Alaska  99801. All appeals must be made in writing.