Did you know that of jewelry marketed across the US as being made by Native artists, approximately 50-80% is counterfeit?
This practice is not only harmful to buyers and authentic makers, it’s also illegal: the Indian Arts and Crafts Act states that any person mis-characterizing a piece of jewelry, or other piece of artwork, as Native-made when it is not, (covering anything produced after 1935), has committed a federal offense – a fourth-degree felony.
Below is an article on how to ensure your Native-made purchase is authentic:
Photograph by Inga Hendrickson.