Art has always been a profound expression of culture, history, and identity. In Canada, Indigenous art stands as a vibrant testament to the rich heritage and diverse traditions of Indigenous peoples. However, amidst the celebration of this cultural wealth, a troubling issue looms large – the prevalence of counterfeit Indigenous art. Afshaan Jiwaji Kapasi & Melissa Tarsitano explore the complexities of counterfeit Indigenous art and offer opportunities to safeguard and authentically celebrate Indigenous art.

Looking for some engaging end of summer reading? Join the IPIC Indigenous IP Community on a challenging, engaging, and inspirational journey laid out in an award winning book: "Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation". Consider this your formal invite to join an IPIC Book Club webinar for a discussion with the authors, Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson, on Friday, October 18, 2024.

We're thrilled to share the inspiring journey of one of our scholarship recipients, Reanna George! After overcoming the challenges of transitioning to university during a global pandemic, Reanna has completed an undergraduate degree in psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Now, she's taking the next big step—pursuing a master’s degree in experimental psychology with a focus on health and wellness.

If the gestation period for dogs is two months, for humans it is nine months, and for African elephants it is a whopping twenty-one months, what is the gestation period for an international legal instrument—patent treaty—designed to ensure patents do not inadvertently incorporate traditional knowledge? If you guessed twenty-four years, congratulations!  You have a preternatural understanding of how difficult it is for states with conflicting interests to reach consensus on this kind of instrument. (Thirteen African elephants can be born successively to the same mother in twenty-four years.)

In June of this year, the Canadian Federal Government released the ‘National Indigenous Economic Strategy for Canada 2022’ (NIES). The NIES builds on the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, as well as the premise that full reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is impossible without economic reconciliation.  It serves as a blueprint to achieve meaningful engagement and inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the Canadian economy, with the ultimate aim that Indigenous communities will achieve self-sufficiency and socio-economic equality with the rest of Canada.

It is no secret that a gap exists when it comes to protecting certain forms of Indigenous intellectual property (IP). While conventional IP tools are excellent in ensuring contemporary songwriters, inventors and brand owners keep control of what they make, these tools are less helpful when it comes to Indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural expression.