Cherokee Nation Wants Congress To Change Law About How Native American Artwork Is Sold In The US

The Cherokee Nation wants Congress to change the Federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act, about how Native American artwork is sold in the United States.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. says the act requires an artist to be a member of a federally recognized or state-recognized tribe in order to sell Native American artwork. Chief Hoskin says to become a federally recognized tribe, groups are required to go through an extensive process and membership is carefully controlled. In comparison, he says the laws aren’t as strict to become a state-recognized tribe and people can just pay a fee to become a member of them.

Chief Hoskin says he wants artists of his and other federally recognized tribes to be able to work in a fair marketplace.

This has led Cherokee Nation to push for Congress to exclude state-recognized tribes from reaping the benefits of the federal protections of selling Indian art.

“In Indian Country, many leaders myself included and people in the artists community look at this as the first chance in a generation and maybe the only chance in the coming generation to make this law stronger. From our perspective, we need to change the laws so we’re not protecting people who pay a membership fee just to call themselves a member of a fake Cherokee tribe,” Chief Hoskin said.

Chief Hoskin says he has no problem with people creating Native Art but doesn’t want them to have the same protections as artists who are members of federally recognized tribes.

“Some people have asked the fair question of what about the state tribes that may be on their way to federal recognition. We think that’s wonderful and they should continue on that path. And if successful they will join the family of 574 federally recognized tribes and we can welcome them. Unless and until that happens they shouldn’t have the protection of federal law,” Chief Hoskin said.

Currently, about 1600 Cherokee Nation citizens have signed a petition in support of changing the Federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Chief Hoskin supports the Artist Act of 2023, which would strengthen the protections given to artists who are members of federally recognized tribes. The Senate is expected to consider it later this month.