Indigenous Intellectual Properties
Sealaska Heritage seeks to promote cross-cultural understanding, and one of the issues that arises time and again is cultural appropriation. SHI offers the following educational materials to help people understand Tlingit property laws.
- Lecture: Tlingit Property Law and Cultural Appropriation by SHI President Rosita Worl
In the presentation, Sealaska Heritage Institute President Dr. Rosita Worl highlights SHI’s goal of promoting cross-cultural understanding and how it applies to teaching Northwest Coast art. “This goal implies an ideal of symmetrical power between the Native and non-Native society in which an Indigenous society acknowledges a right to teach non-Natives about Native culture and Northwest Coast art.”
- Blog: Q & A with Rosita Worl: When is it okay to use Northwest Coast formline designs and crests?
This blog post stems from the many requests we get from individuals and entities that want to incorporate Northwest Coast designs and traditions into flyers, logos, pieces for sale and other materials.
- Lecture: Indigenous Issues in Native Handicrafts and Intellectual Property by Jacob Adams, LLB LLM LLM
In the first of two talks, Jacob Adams introduces his work in the area of indigenous intellectual property rights. Through his research, Adams, who is also a practicing attorney with law degrees from universities in Australia and the United States, is examining alternative means to protect indigenous intellectual property using trademark law, with a focus on Northwest Coast culture and art.
- Lecture: The Fertile Environment for Legal Protections of Native Alaskan Handicraft Heritage by Jacob Adams, LLB LLM LLM
In the second of two talks, Jacob Adams discusses early findings from his field research, through which he examined alternative means to protect indigenous intellectual property using trademark law, with a focus on Northwest Coast culture and art.
- People’s Handiwork—kaa ji.eetí: The world loves the artistry—the handiwork—of Native Alaskans. But how can we show that love without understanding where it came from and what it means? This video introduces students and the public to the history and values of Native Alaskan art, contrasts in western and Alaskan laws, and discusses how to show respect for this treasure of heritage and culture
