The U.S. Senate passed Senator Dan Sullivan’s Alaska’s Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act on October 8, 2025. The act serves to rectify the damage done to Native American businesses by certain states’ overly broad ban on ivory. These states meant to prohibit African elephant ivory, which is illegal in all of America. However, the laws are written in a way that also bans the buying and selling of marine animal ivory.
Native Alaskans have a long tradition of crafting and selling beautiful artwork and jewelry made from marine animal ivory. According to 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.” These ivory masterpieces are sold throughout Alaska, and many tourists buy them as mementos of their once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Last Frontier.
Sen. Sullivan’s bill ensures that these Native Alaskan treasures can be sold anywhere in the United States. Section 2, Paragraph 4 states: “No State shall prohibit the importation, sale, offer for sale, transfer, trade, barter, possession, or possession with the intent to sell, transfer, trade, or barter of marine mammal ivory or marine mammal bone or baleen incorporated under this title by an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo, into an authentic Alaska Native article of handicrafts and clothing.’’
The bill passed unanimously. Ben Mallott, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, stated: “The passing of this legislation marks a significant step forward in recognizing and respecting the cultural heritage and livelihoods of Alaska Native artisans.” Director of the Eskimo Walrus Commission, Vera Metcalf added: “The Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC) strongly supports this bill and thanks Senator Sullivan and his staff for working with us on it… 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.”