Siletz news /, October 01, 2012, Page 23, Image 23

Man convicted for falsely advertising products as Alaska Native-made
WASHINGTON - The Indian Arts
and Crafts Board of the U.S. Department
of the Interior recently praised federal
agencies for work that led to the convic­
tion of an Anchorage resident for viola­
tions of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
Under the act, it is illegal to falsely
display, offer for sale or sell a product as
“Alaska Native,” “American Indian” or
“Native American” or as the product of
an Indian Tribe.
On Aug. 1, Anchorage resident
Edward R. Schlief was sentenced to three
years of probation and fined $7,500 for
falsely advertising seal skin bow hunting
tabs as being made by Alaska Natives.
“This case provides an excellent
example of cooperation to advance the
rights and protections of Alaska Natives,”
said Rose Fosdick, vice chairman of the
Indian Arts and Crafts Board and vice
president of Kawerak, Inc.’s Natural
Resources Division in Nome, Alaska.
“This conviction sends a strong message
to all violators of the act.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office - District
of Alaska, U.S. Department of Com­
merce’s National Oceanic and Atmo­
spheric Administration and the U.S.
Department of the Interior’s Fish and
Wildlife Service worked collaboratively
in this investigation to advance the rights
and protections of Alaska Natives.
In 2010, President Obama signed the
Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act
to give all federal law enforcement profes­
sionals authority to conduct investigations
of those who fraudulently market prod­
ucts as Indian-made in violation of the act.
The Indian Arts and Crafts Board at the
U.S. Department of the Interior oversees
enforcement of the act.
The conviction reflected the fact that
Schlief, who owned and operated Alaska
Bowhunting Supply LLC, is neither an
Alaska Native nor a member of any Indian
Tribe, as defined by the act. He illegally
purchased and possessed unaltered seal
skin hides and knowingly provided these
unaltered hides to a non-Alaska Native to
produce seal skin bow hunting tabs.
These products then were falsely
advertised and sold through the Alaska
Bowhunting Supply LLC website, as well
as sold to retailers, as authentic Alaska
Native handcrafts to enhance the value
and marketability of these products.
More than 1,000 of the falsely repre­
sented products were sold over a period
of four years for approximately $17,000.
“The sustainable take of marine
mammals for food and handicrafts by
Alaska Natives is an inherent component
of our culture, way of life and economic
livelihood,” said Fosdick. “For millennia,
Alaska Natives have used seal skin and
today continue to use this valuable mate­
rial for art and craftwork. Enforcement of
the Indian Arts and Crafts Act is critical to
the protection of long-term Alaska Native
opportunities for subsistence resources
and raw materials.”
For more information on the act and
protections for Alaska Natives and Ameri­
can Indians under the act, please visit the
Indian Arts and Crafts Board website at
iacb.doi.gov or call toll-free at 888-ART-
FAKE (888-278-3253).
Oregon
State Fair
Salem,
Oregon
Aug. 24,
2012
Left; Ed Ben (second from left), Alan Fish (fourth from left) and Junior Miss
Siletz SuSun Fisher (third from right) help bring in the Hags.
Photos by Diane Rodriquez
Jake Williams (left) and Louie Orona (second from right) wait as
Bud Lane (right) ties a nin-kvt-me’-sla for Gabriel Jurado.
Teila Jurado-Salas stands still as
Cheryl Lane applies traditional paint.
Singers Bud Lane, Louie Orona,
Allivea Hernandez, Teila Jurado-
Salas, Evan Jurado, Rosalee Jurado,
Jake Williams, Jennifer Easter, Buddy
Lane, Tasha Mason, Jocelyn
Hernandez, Sahaylee Mason and
Gabriel Jurado share Siletz songs.
October 2012
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Siletz News
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