Tom Udall

The scope of the counterfeiting problem is far larger than expected.

There is a tremendous need for that.

you don't necessarily need a criminal conviction in order to do a forfeiture, is that correct, or would you be recommending the two be combined together?

Do you think it would be helpful to dedicate resources to improving fraudulent--to looking at the fraudulent online sales?

if you can incorporate that requirement in the statute itself, that's going to make a difference.

it's crucial that this statute have--it makes clear that there should be an indelible country of origin marking.

Fake art drives down prices, forces Native Americans to quit their crafts and devalues Native American art.

We commend Senator Tom Udall and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for taking up this important strengthening of the Arts and Crafts Act

Do you believe that these fraudulent online sales, are they a significant problem?

I fully support efforts to enhance and enforce legislation providing harsher penalties for those who would cheat our indigenous artists by appropriating their culture.

An issue that concerns me is the impact of fake, mass-produced goods that are marketed as authentic Indian arts and crafts on the local economy.

So that's your best guess at this point.

I too support the modernization of the Act to better protect the artists and the Indian art industry.

That's the declared value coming into the U.S. I would say maybe Meredith can answer this better.

The primary purpose of the IACA is to protect Indian artists and businesses, tribal economics and culture.

The protection of tribal nations is of the utmost importance to the Department of the Interior.

When someone steals and sells a tribe's cultural patrimony, they are stealing that tribe's traditions and identity.

For centuries, the United States used cultural appropriation as a tool of colonization.

Like you say, it is a new age. And if people are violating the law, we're going to be coming after them, and they will be brought to justice.

Well, first of all, welcome to everybody today. It's wonderful to have you here, and it's wonderful to be at this location.

It looks like, Chief Woody, you agree with that.

I would like to see them change the term 'Indian' and look more at cultural affiliation for artists.

Thank you so much, Mr. Maybee. And you've got a real--like all of the witnesses here--they all have real expertise and something to offer here.

I was very pleased your committee visited Santa Fe for a Field Hearing on Modernizing the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) on July 7th 2017.

So it was a big problem then. But now I understand that as much as 80 percent of those goods are likely counterfeit and therefore being sold in violation of Federal law.