How to Buy Aboriginal Art

How to Buy Aboriginal Art

With 198 First Nations groups in British Columbia alone, it's easy to be mesmerized, even confused, by the range and diversity of the indigenous art you'll see. Different bands have traded materials, skills, and resources for centuries so that today it's often difficult to attribute any particular style to any one Nation. But it is this very blending that has created such a rich cultural mosaic. That said, there are still some groups, such as the Haida and Coast Salish, who have strong identifiable traits.

Broadly speaking, First Nations art is a language of symbols, which come together to describe the legends and stories that link one community with another. And contrary to popular belief, although these symbols may share a similar meaning, they are by no means a common language: the Coast Salish, for example, view the hummingbird very differently from how the Tsimshian Tribe do, yet both are equally valid.

According to Rikki Kooy, whose Shuswap name is Spirit Elk Woman, there are two heartfelt ways many people purchase First Nations art. "The first is to fall in love with a region of British Columbia, and find the First Nations group that represents that area. The second is to fall in love with a piece for its calling." She goes on to explain that "Quality pieces have a flow. I call it a life." Rikki has been involved with retailing aboriginal art for more than 35 years and is an advisor to Aboriginal Tourism BC.

Once you've found yourself drawn to a particular piece, and no matter if the piece you're interested in is jewelry, a mask, or a print, there are three essential questions to consider in judging its integrity and authenticity.

1) Does the work or design have a title? Because First Nations art is highly symbolic, authentic pieces will be titled. Bear in mind that the title will usually allude to mythical lore, real-life stories, and/or the artist's ancestry. Totem poles are particularly good examples of these elements.

2) Is the cultural group identified? Every piece holds a story against which there is often a broader background of heritage, hierarchy, and geographic origin. For example, a Haida piece will likely have come from the Queen Charlottes, or have been made by a descendant from that region. By knowing the region, the nuances of the piece's symbolic language are more easily identified.

3) Is the artist identified, or better still, is there a background sheet available? First Nations peoples hold relationships in high esteem so dealers with integrity will have established a relationship with the artists they represent, and should have a background sheet on the artist and his heritage. This adds to the authenticity of the work.