Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - August 27, 2024 - Eunice Ketchemonia-Cote, a unique ribbon skirt and star blanket artist from the Keeseekoose First Nation, has experienced her unique designs being replicated without her consent on social media.

This phenomenon, which has been happening for decades, is often done to build their own reputation or money.

Audrey Dreaver, an artist and program co-ordinator of Indigenous Fine Arts at the First Nations University of Canada, believes that misusing or outright theft of Indigenous people's artwork or "intellectual property" is an offensive and underhanded way of doing so.

The problem extends to manipulating someone's artwork or design and calling it their own.

Canadian Métis artist Christi Belcourt landed a collaboration with Italian fashion brand Valentino, but soon discovered that the brand had appropriated a headdress on one of their shoeboxes.

Other designers have also experienced cultural appropriation from larger brands. Dreaver believes that Canada needs to create an Act to protect Indigenous artists in the same way the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) of 1990 does in the US.