Canada
Inuit carving. Many Inuit artists quarry their own soapstone, marble, basalt, limestone, or serpentine to carve animals, people, and spiritual imagery based on Inuit legends. Antler, ivory, and whalebone carvings are also available, but travelers should check customs regulations before purchasing animal products. Look for carvings in northern Canada shops and in the Ontario Crafts Council's retail outlet, the Guild Shop in Toronto (118 Cumberland St.; tel. +1 416 921 1721).
Caribou tufting. Nimble-fingered Inuit artists sew bundles of dyed and undyed caribou hairs onto fabric, hide, or bark to create intricate three-dimensional flowers, animals, and landscapes used to decorate moccasins, purses, and belts. Look for this appliqué-like handiwork in shops in the Nunavut and Nunavik regions of northwestern Canada, or in the Ontario Crafts Council's retail outlet, the Guild Shop in Toronto (118 Cumberland St.; tel. +1 416 921 1721.
Quill Boxes. Made from dyed porcupine quills embedded in round birch bark frames and decorated with sweetgrass, quill boxes are an Aboriginal specialty. Look for pieces by renowned Shaman artist Norval Morrisseau. Buy these two-to-five-inch boxes at the Indian-operated Whetung Ojibwa Crafts and Art Gallery (tel. +1 705 657 3661), or commission work directly from artists.
Button Blankets. Artists sew abalone shells or mother-of-pearl buttons into animal outlines (like whale, wolf, eagle, or fish) on wool blankets. Button blankets were traditionally made with shells. After contact with white settlers, artists began using the buttons and wool blankets brought by maritime fur and Hudson's Bay traders. Find these ceremonial blankets or shawls in west coast galleries.
Birch bark biting. Although it began as a casual art among Aboriginal women testing out designs for quill or beadwork, birch bark biting has grown into a fine art practiced by artists like Angelique Merasty of Manitoba. The method is similar to making paper snowflakes: Thin pieces of birch bark are folded it into quarters or eights, and artists bite designs into the thin wood. Unfolded, the birch bark reveals designs, including geometric, floral, animal, and human patterns. Look for this craft at Ojibwa (Chippewa), Cree, and Algonquin galleries.
Inuit soapstone sculpture from Nunavut, northern Quebec, Labrador, and Baffin Island. One of the best galleries for Inuit art is Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery in Vancouver (1024 Mainland St.; tel. +1 604 685 9298; e-mail coastalpeoples@telus.net.
Cowichan sweaters. Heavy, hand-knitted sweaters made by West Coast Salish people on Vancouver Island. The Cowichan Trading Company in Victoria, B.C. (tel. +1 250 383 0321), guarantees authenticity. Genuine Cowichan sweaters are given a special label that indicates they were knitted and crafted by Cowichan artisans. Also visit Sasquatch Trading Ltd. for authentic sweaters (1233 Government St., Victoria, B.C.; tel. +1 250 386 9033).
Totem poles. The Tlingit of Alaska, and Haida and Tsimshian of western Canada carve totem poles from cedar, but travelers may opt for miniature wood or black slate carvings at shops throughout the Northwest U.S. and Canada, including Hill's Native Art in Vancouver (tel. +1 604 685 4249), and in Native American craft stands throughout the region. Avoid mass-produced and imported totem poles by asking for the artist name or Native community, and expect to pay over $100 for quality authentic carvings.
