ARTIST Act

The Alaska's Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition Act (ARTIST Act) would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to shield and support Alaska Native artisans who produce handicrafts and marine mammal ivory products. It creates a specific exemption for taking marine mammals by Alaska Natives when the purpose is subsistence or to create and sell authentic Alaska Native articles, provided the activity is not wasteful. The bill defines what qualifies as authentic Native handicrafts, limits the use of mass-copying methods, and allows controlled interstate sale of these authentic items. It also preserves a role for regulatory oversight if wildlife stocks become depleted, requires evidence-based regulations that consider Indigenous knowledge, and restricts state-level bans on importing or selling authentic items that incorporate marine mammal ivory or bone. In short, the bill aims to protect traditional Alaska Native livelihoods and cultural practices connected to handicrafts and ivory products, while setting safeguards to prevent wasteful use and to address wildlife conservation concerns.