The Latest: Etsy says policy bans Alaska Native ivory sales

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 6:23 pm, Tuesday, February 6, 2018

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Latest on online sales site Etsy terminating the accounts of some Alaska Native artists (all times local):

2:20 p.m.

The online sales website Etsy says it no longer allows Alaska Natives to sell such animal products as ivory.

The company made the comments in response to criticism prompted by the removal of such items from accounts held by Alaska Native artists who have been selling ivory and other animal parts that Etsy says are prohibited from the site.

. . .

Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan asked Etsy's chief executive officer to reconsider the policy and allow Alaska Natives to continue to sell products made from walrus tusks or from petrified wooly mammoth remains found in the state.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/business/technology/article/The-Latest-Etsy-says-policy-bans-Alaska-Native-12556515.php

[SHRED]

1. This has been an issue in Alaska for a long time

[Stryst]

2. Devil's advocate

but how is Etsy to know the difference between illegal, immorally harvested ivory and the legally but immorally harvested ivory that native communities are trying to sell? They're both animals in a rebound from near extinction from hunting, they're both animals that are often killed JUST for the ivory... to me, I don't see a difference.

And I know that there's a cultural element to the ivory carving, but there's also a cultural element to African ivory carving. If one is bad, why is the other not?

[jberryhill]

3. I doubt selling things on Etsy is part of any traditional culture

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. Like native-american casinos in the lower 48, it's neo-tradition. nt

[Drahthaardogs]

5. A lot of Alaska art is carved on mammoth ivory

The tusks can be found on the tundra.

[Nitram]

6. A lot of the carvings are made of petrified ivory, which I believe is perfectly legal.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. I brought back tiny ivory carved polar bear necklaces from above the Canadian Artic

Circle. They were carved by Inuits from ivory over 100 years old. Came through US customs with them.