Legitimate Indigenous souvenir businesses squeezed out
If we’re going to turn the tide on the volume of fake Indigenous art sold in souvenir shops, we need to support more Indigenous-owned shops and designers in Vancouver.
Urban Nation
As part of our on-going commitment to reconciliation, reporters Wawmeesh Hamilton and Brielle Morgan piloted Urban Nation to explore how to serve the urban Indigenous population of Greater Vancouver. The Discourse Urban Nation is now on hiatus.
👉🏽 Explore The Discourse Urban Nation stories below.
👉🏽 Learn more about The Discourse.
👉🏽 Email us to chat.
Latest in Urban Nation
Stores commit to removing inauthentic Indigenous souvenirs after The Discourse investigation
Indigenous artists ‘should have their royalties,’ says one store owner who says she’s committed to selling authentic items.
The real story behind one of the most replicated totem poles in Vancouver
‘It's splattered all over. . . with no acknowledgement that that’s his work,’ says carver’s great-great-granddaughter.
Why aren’t fake Indigenous art makers going to jail in Canada?
A groundbreaking case in the U.S. sent two people to jail last year for misrepresenting items as genuine Navajo art. Why don’t we have a law like that here?
Fake Indigenous art not Indigenous at all, artists say
Our artwork is ‘the way we write down our history, our worldview, our laws. It really is a written language,’ Shain Jackson says.
Here’s how we investigated Vancouver’s Indigenous-souvenir industry
Details on the stores we visited, the samples we took and the manufacturers we called to determine which products were authentic.
Fake Indigenous art is a real problem in Vancouver stores
Investigation uncovers some knock-off Indigenous art is sold in 75% of Vancouver souvenir shops.
Why seeing a shelf full of fake totem poles makes me wince
From their randomly splashed designs to their strange choice of materials, fake poles miss every opportunity to honour our culture. And they’re just the tip of the fake art iceberg.
Urban Nation Discourse’s do-or-die moment
Together, we’ve amplified Indigenous voices and connected our community. Now is the moment of truth: Is The Discourse valuable enough that you’ll pay for it?
Hate surges over judge’s statue removal in New West
City council’s decision was well meaning, but extensive public education would have helped.
Stores commit to removing inauthentic Indigenous souvenirs after The Discourse investigation
Indigenous artists ‘should have their royalties,’ says one store owner who says she’s committed to selling authentic items.
The real story behind one of the most replicated totem poles in Vancouver
‘It's splattered all over. . . with no acknowledgement that that’s his work,’ says carver’s great-great-granddaughter.
Why aren’t fake Indigenous art makers going to jail in Canada?
A groundbreaking case in the U.S. sent two people to jail last year for misrepresenting items as genuine Navajo art. Why don’t we have a law like that here?
Fake Indigenous art not Indigenous at all, artists say
Our artwork is ‘the way we write down our history, our worldview, our laws. It really is a written language,’ Shain Jackson says.
Here’s how we investigated Vancouver’s Indigenous-souvenir industry
Details on the stores we visited, the samples we took and the manufacturers we called to determine which products were authentic.
Fake Indigenous art is a real problem in Vancouver stores
Investigation uncovers some knock-off Indigenous art is sold in 75% of Vancouver souvenir shops.
Why seeing a shelf full of fake totem poles makes me wince
From their randomly splashed designs to their strange choice of materials, fake poles miss every opportunity to honour our culture. And they’re just the tip of the fake art iceberg.
Urban Nation Discourse’s do-or-die moment
Together, we’ve amplified Indigenous voices and connected our community. Now is the moment of truth: Is The Discourse valuable enough that you’ll pay for it?
Hate surges over judge’s statue removal in New West
City council’s decision was well meaning, but extensive public education would have helped.