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What qualifies as Native American

The United States Department of the Interior has a branch devoted to the welfare and integrity of works that can be sold specifically as "Native American." This page includes an overview of the Indian Arts and Crafts Law and how Western Gate Gallery adheres to those laws.

The following statement is from the Indian Arts and Crafts Board:
"The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian Tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States."

On occassion, Western Gate Gallery will exhibit the artwork of a Native American "descendant," meaning, art or craftwork made by a Native person by descendancy but not a "Federally" or "State" recognized tribal member. You will find this the case for many California tribes.

For those of you interested in a detailed look at these laws, we have provided a link to the U. S. Department of Interior's Indian Arts and Crafts Board web site.