10.09.25

Senate Passes Sullivan Legislation Protecting Alaska Native Artists’ Cultural Heritage and Economic Opportunities

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage yesterday of his bill, the Alaska’s Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act, which protects the legal rights of Alaska Native artists using walrus ivory in traditional handicrafts, art, ceremonial regalia, and clothing. In recent years, several states have enacted overly broad ivory bans intended to curb illegal elephant ivory trafficking, but those laws have unintentionally included Alaska’s lawful, sustainable handicrafts from walrus ivory. This bill clarifies that states may not ban the import, sale, or possession of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts, ensuring that this lawful and culturally vital tradition can continue to be practiced and shared with people across the country.

“For thousands of years, Alaska Natives have responsibly harvested whales, walruses, and other marine mammals. These animals are eaten, shared, honored, and no part of the animal goes to waste,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The bones, the ivory, the baleen are used to create some of the most beautiful art in the world. Unfortunately, some of the lawfully harvested and crafted walrus ivory works of Alaska Native artisans have been targeted by well-intentioned but overly broad state laws aimed at stopping the illegal African elephant ivory trade. I thank my Senate colleagues for unanimously passing my ARTIST Act—which we’ve been working on for over eight years, affirming the right of the Alaska Native people to continue these centuries-old traditional practices, and supporting a critically important economic driver for Alaska’s rural communities.”

Below are statements from key leaders and stakeholders in support of Sen. Sullivan’s legislation.

Ben Mallott, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives: “The passing of this legislation marks a significant step forward in recognizing and respecting the cultural heritage and livelihoods of Alaska Native artisans. We celebrate this victory for our communities, as it acknowledges the importance of traditional practices and supports the continuation of our cultural expressions. We thank Senator Sullivan for his advocacy on this matter, and look forward to a swift passage in the House.”

Melanie Bahnke, president of Kawerak, Inc: “For thousands of years, Alaska Natives have sustainably harvested Pacific Walrus to survive in theArctic. As our ancestors have, we continue to rely on this resource for food, tools, and to create artwork celebrating our culture. We are grateful that the Senate passed this bill to ensure that our artwork and tools are not deemed illegal in various parts of the United States. On behalf of Kawerak and the people we serve, thank you Senator Sullivan, for recognizing that banning our culture is wrong, and for championing this bill through the Senate. We hope that the House will also find that our way of life is worthy of protection and this bill is signed into law.”

Vera Metcalf, director of the Eskimo Walrus Commission: “The Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC) strongly supports this bill and thanks Senator Sullivan and his staff for working with us on it. We also greatly appreciate the support from Kawerak, the Indigenous People’s Council on Marine Mammals (IPComm), the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), WWF Arctic Program, and especially our Alaska Native communities. The Pacific walrus remains a significant component of our Indigenous food security and remains a major feature of Alaska Native cultural heritage. Our use of ivory gives full expression to our traditional relationship with the Pacific walrus and our way-of-life. EWC thanks Congress for passing this bill to ensure the cultural and economic well-being of Alaska Native communities thrive.”

Nagruk Harcharek, president and CEO of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat:“This is an important cultural milestone for the North Slope Iñupiat, who have utilized walrus ivory from our traditional subsistence hunting activities as tools, arts, and crafts. Our communities have relied on this natural resource for thousands of years, and we are pleased that this legislative effort seeks to protect our cultural heritage for generations to come.”

Steve MacLean, managing director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) U.S. Arctic Program: “The ARTIST Act reaffirms the rights of Alaska Native artists to create and sell authentic artworks and traditional handicrafts in the U.S. that are made from sustainably sourced marine mammal products, including walrus ivory. This longstanding cultural tradition is a vital source of economic opportunity and income for many Alaska Native communities, and walrus remain a critical component of Indigenous food security and cultural expression. Senator Sullivan, working with the Eskimo Walrus Commission, has shown dedication and leadership in crafting this bill, which helps to restore opportunities for Alaska Native artists to share their artwork and provide for their families. We now encourage the House to take it up and pass it into law.”

The full bill text can be found here.

Timeline:

  • In January 2025, Sen. Sullivan reintroduced the ARTIST Act at the start of the 119th Congress to continue his effort to protect the rights of Alaska Native artists.
  • In October 2024, Sen. Sullivan introduced the ARTIST Act.
  • In September 2020, Sen. Sullivan led a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on the Empowering Rural Economies Through Alaska Native Sustainable Arts and Handicrafts Act, Sen. Sullivan’s bill to preempt states from banning walrus ivory, whale bone, and other marine mammal products that have been legally carved by Alaska Native people under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
  • Sen. Sullivan has advocated for Etsy and Facebook to amend their guidelines on handicraft sales to include products or artwork made by Alaska Native artists using sealskin, otter, walrus ivory, and other protected materials.
  • In September 2017, Sen. Sullivan wrote the National Governors Association and National Conference of State Legislatures with the Alaska congressional delegation to highlight the “potentially devastating and unintended consequences of broadly crafted state ivory bans that are currently in place or under consideration in nearly half of the United States.”
  • In September 2017, Sen. Sullivan introduced the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act, legislation to preempt states from banning walrus ivory or whale bone products that have been legally carved by Alaska Native people under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
  • In October 2016, Sen. Sullivan convened a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee field hearing at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention to discuss a series of reported problems and confusion surrounding state laws across the country that prohibit ivory sales and harm Alaska Native artisans.
  • In June 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a regulation banning most commercial and non-commercial trade in raw and worked ivory of African elephants following a global decrease in elephant populations due to illegal poaching. Many states have since enacted broader bans on ivory sales that generally include walrus, mammoth, and fossilized ivory used by Alaska Natives and Alaskans to produce artistic carvings, clothing, or authentic handiworks. These actions led to confusion among consumers regarding other legal ivory products, resulting in decreased demand for legal Alaska Native handicrafts and mammoth ivory carvings.

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