SANTA FE — Next week, on Friday, July 7 at 10 a.m., U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, will chair an oversight field hearing for the committee with U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, on efforts to prevent marketing or sale of counterfeit Tribal art and jewelry, and protect and honor the cultural sovereignty of Tribes throughout New Mexico and Indian Country. The hearing will take place in Santa Fe at the Santa Fe Indian School.
In the hearing, called the “Cultural Sovereignty Series: Modernizing the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to Honor Native Identity and Expression,” Udall and Heinrich will hear testimony from current and former federal law enforcement officials, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, and local stakeholders on the importance of preserving Indian artisanship as an aspect of cultural identity, and ensuring the sale of Native American art and craftwork remains an economic driver for Native Americans throughout New Mexico and Indian Country. The hearing will also address the enforcement of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) — the law that prohibits the marketing or sale of goods that falsely suggests that the items are Indian produced — and solutions to modernize the current law to reflect the needs of Native American communities.
Since his days as Attorney General of New Mexico, Udall has fought against the sale of counterfeit Native American art which over the years has resulted in outright fraud, significant economic losses to Native Americans who rely on this market, and negative impacts to the cultural integrity of Tribal communities.
This is the second in a series of hearings Udall will hold on protecting cultural sovereignty. In the first oversight field hearing of the series, Udall and Heinrich addressed action to prevent the theft, illegal possession, and sale of Tribal cultural Items that are not considered art but hold high value to Tribal heritage.
Witnesses will include:
Panel I:
Bill Woody, Chief, Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Meridith Stanton, Executive Director, Indian Arts and Crafts Board
Jim Tierney, Acting U.S. Attorney, District of New Mexico, U.S. Department of Justice, Albuquerque, NM
Panel II:
Damon Martinez, Former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico
Joyce Begay Foss, Director, Living Traditions Education Center, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
Dallin Maybee, Chief Operating Officer, Southwestern Association for Indian Arts
Harvey Pratt, Native American Artist
Media: Please RSVP to news@tomudall.senate.gov to attend. Media availability will be immediately follow the hearing.
Please note: no outside signs will be permitted in the field hearing.
Friday, July 7, 2017
WHAT: Udall to chair Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing, “Cultural Sovereignty Series: Modernizing the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to Honor Native Identity and Expression”
TIME: Hearing begins 10 a.m.; media set by 9:45 a.m.
WHERE: Santa Fe Indian School Gymnasium
1501 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM
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