The Indian Arts and Crafts Act - How to Report a Fraud

[Defend the Sacred]

Falsely Advertising products as Native American is a criminal violation of the American Indian Arts and Crafts Act: https://www.doi.gov/iacb/act

"The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian Tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States. For a first time violation of the Act, an individual can face civil or criminal penalties up to a $250,000 fine or a 5-year prison term, or both. If a business violates the Act, it can face civil penalties or can be prosecuted and fined up to $1,000,000."

Report a violator of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act: https://www.doi.gov/iacb/should-i-report-potential-violation

[In Solidarity]

Hi

would this include the sale of 'books of information' ie: https://earthmotherblog.wordpress.com/time/

“Earth Mother Our Womb of Life” is divided into four main sections: an introduction outlining the concept of the book, a summary of “Ancient Truths Preserved by Native Peoples,” an overview of how these ancient principles pertain to the purification cycle and a section on time.

I will contact the link you give to ask them as well (asking here just in case the answer is quicker)

In Solidarity

[Whitephoenix]

Mary Ellen Mcleroy, a white woman living in Reliance TN. Author of two Cherokee books, one on the language the other on the ways of the Cherokee people is a laughable insult to anything tasaligi. We conducted an investigation of her as a member of tge fraud group the overhill cherokee nation a pay per indian scam led by a drunken wife abusing nut case calling himself dr lee roy gibson or man mamy trees. Anyhow this redneck cult displays tee pee and women chiefs wear face paint and sioux addresses. Mrs mary mcleroy whose address is 2735 tellico reliance road, reliance tn 37369 is a woman whom cannot speak our language let alone publish 243 pages on it! I bought a copy fpr giggles its self published on lulu and doesnt know tone dialect and is an insult to ga wo ni hi s di, or language. A friend has a copy of her DNA and she claims to be Nancy wards grandsfughter but the rral familiy has not heard of her, in fact she is albert beans great grand daughter the child saved by nancy ward, what an insult to the people.

[green_grow_the_lilacs]

If anyone says they are of Native American, American Indian, or a specific tribe's "descent", "ancestry", or "heritage," IACA can't touch them. Same with saying someone is "Indigenous." A mind-numbingly easy way to circumvent the law.

If anyone is putting out a call for arts, scholarship, or grants, please use the terms "American Indian" and "Native American," since these actually have some legal standing.

[Defend the Sacred]

It doesn't really circumvent if consumers/marks/patrons know the difference between actual Natives and nons who are just making claims of some kind of heritage (whether true or false, still not the same as being Native). But of course, they count on people not knowing the difference.

Online retailers like Etsy and eBay do know the difference, though sometimes they'll pretend not to. I've seen them let the reported frauds keep their shops up as long as they change their wording from "Native American" to "Native American style", for instance.

But there are still hideous shops on those sites using names of actual Nations, but that are totally white run. A bunch of us have reported them and nothing has happened. I think it's going to take a major lawsuit to change this.