Who would that "someone" be?
I have a suggestion here to resolve this issue. Please, whoever that "someone" is who can be trusted to validate this information privately, please post to this forum and identify yourself (whether or not by name, your screenname is fine) that you are that someone who will validate. That way, that is documented as part of this thread. THEN that someone and Kenny should talk directly at length. THEN than someone can report their conclusions here. I believe this approach would help ease concerns if a known, trusted person on this forum reviewed Kenny's work, while at the same time honoring Kenny's request, a logical request, to maintain some level or privacy for his contractors. That would be fair, and above reproach, I believe. Just an idea. Please "someone," give this some serious thought.
I have spent about an hour on the phone this morning with Kenny. I now believe I may have done a huge disservice to his company and indeed may end up hurting, very directly, Lakota people on the reservation.
Regarding the need to prove Lakotas are involved, who is the authority to provide this proof? According to my read of the statute, that authorizing body is not established. The statute includes:
All products must be marketed truthfully regarding the Indian heritage and tribal affiliation of the producers, so as not to mislead the consumer. It is illegal to market an art or craft item using the name of a tribe if a member, or certified Indian artisan, of that tribe did not actually create the art or craft item.
Kenny has stated he has files full of documentation to establish this truth of his claims. I had suggested in this forum, that as a courtesy to Kenny, that he be contacted directly by phone or email. He in his posts has asked the same thing. Perhaps if "someone" will call him he can share the names with you in private. I do not know. I do know he need not prove to any one individual who has doubts. All he need be, is real and truthful in his disclosures. That's all the statue requires.
Kenny informed me he was aware of the statute and was when he did his initial research. I believe I confounded the issue in this forum by thinking out loud, so to speak, in my posts that there is some sort of certification that can be done. As far as I can see, no certification like that exists. It is incumbent upon the person or company selling products to honor the statutes, and that's pretty much all that is required as far as I read what the statute covers.
If Kenny were making false claims, he is subject to a $1,000,000 fine according to the statute. Kenny seemed aware of that. That's a pretty big incentive for him not to f--k up.
Kenny's tale of the elder and use of the Lakota name can easily be tracked down, but by whom? Kenny raised some valid points regarding the use of the Lakatoa name. He stated to me he employs only individuals working at home on the Pine Ridge Reservation and has tons of documentation to establish that fact. He tells here in this forum how the name was arrived at. If he were to call his company "Kenny's Fine Straps" he asked me, would that be a true reflection of what the company is about? That's a valid question.
Here is an individual who has named his company Lakota Leathers and, who I now see, is real and heartfelt and IN NO WAY a wannabe (nor am I, I am a don't-give-a-damn-to-be. I know who I am and that is good enough for me). So Kenny says he can easily document his assistance. Ok. But what about Dodge Dakotas? Or the Cherokee Chief? These are examples of exploited names and I doubt anyone can show how Jeep or Dodge has contributed to Indians. Those large corporations have the power to continue screwing Indians and the use of their name. Fine.
Now Kenny comes along. I'm pretty good at discerning bullcrap. I do not detect any at all. Kenny has stepped up to the plate in my opinion. I have read a lot of threads in this forum and never have I seen this happen (but I am a newbie), in what appears to be a positive way. But Kenny is just one guy. You guys could easily squash him like a bug in this forum if you choose to. If you do, he will not be able to defend himself. He is not quite the size of Dodge or Jeep to ignore Indians. He is directly engaged. He should be kicked for that? I do not think so. Not until he has been validated or not.
I do now believe and see he is for real. My thread could prove detrimental not only to his company, but also to the Lakotas he works with. That should be a consideration here. If that is the result of my inquiry, that would be a little difficult to live with, but I will live with it. I have made mistakes in my life and perhaps this is one of them.
In an earlier post I made I had stated that I hoped that some of the artisans cold chime in. Kenny pointed out to me that none of them own computers or are on the internet. How are they going to "chime in?" That's a valid point. His reluctance to
publicly identify his artisans and contractors does not mean he he
won't identify them. There is a profound difference there. You must stop and consider the damage that could possibly happen if these folks were now plastered all over the internet, the effect and impact that could have. He states that many are already depicted in his videos. To name them by name?
When I made my initial post I did not know his situation of course. When I made my suggestion to name them, I was not considering those potential consequences until Kenny pointed them out to me. His workers work out of their homes. I do clearly understand his concerns.
Again, it would be indeed unfortunate if my inquiry into this company carried the unintended consequence of hurting real Lakota people. That is why I have suggested that someone on this forum post that they will be the one to interview Kenny and post the conclusions here. That seems fair.
If I end up hurting folks because of this, including Kenny (if he is for real, and I do believe his heart is pure on this) that I will live with that knowledge. I have carried burdens before. I do not wish to be know as someone who hurt someone just by being a dumbass.
