Indian Arts and Crafts Acts for Attorneys CLE

Presented by the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts, the Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance and the American Indian Community Housing Organization.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Native and American Indian art and craft products within the United States. Under the Act, an Indian is defined as a member of any federally or officially State recognized tribe of the United States, or an individual certified as an Indian artisan by an Indian tribe. Minnesota, South Dakota and other states in the region also have similar state-specific acts on the books.

In this Continuing Legal Education workshop, we will examine the basics of the Act, how it affects enrolled and unenrolled Native artists in the Upper Midwest, certification processes for unenrolled direct descendants, and what you need to know when working with Native artists and culture bearers making and selling original artwork, crafts and handmade goods. 

Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts is applying to the CLE Boards of Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, with the number of credits to be determined shortly.

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Presenters: Ken Van Wey, Program Specialist, Indian Arts and Crafts Board

Registration is open to attorneys, legal professionals, officers of tribal courts, law students, and arts professionals, as well as non-Native attorneys and professionals. Artists are welcome to attend, though please note that we will be presenting a version of this workshop for non-attorneys in 2022.