Indian Arts & Crafts Association protects you and the artist

Posted under Tribal Art by William Ernest Waites, Aboriginals Gallery, Zunilink, Tribalworks, Native-JewelryLink and Native-PotteryLink

We have been members of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association for 19 years. We have proudly displayed the IACA logo proclaiming our membership, which requires us to sell only authentic Native American made art when we have identified it as such.

For those, who are not familiar with IACA, here is brief history, courtesy of the association itself.

HISTORY OF IACA

The Indian Arts and Crafts Association was established in 1974 in response to the growing problem of misrepresentation of American Indian arts and crafts in the marketplace. The original founders were American Indian artists and reputable businesses located primarily in the Southwest. Today, IACA is an international organization representing every link in American Indian arts - Native artists from the U.S. and Canada, along with consumers, retailers, wholesalers, museums, government agencies, suppliers and supporting members.

In the early 1970s, the American Indian arts and crafts industry was booming. And, as so often happens with successful businesses, unscrupulous dealers, knockoffs and imported goods appeared in the market to the detriment of the unsuspecting consumer and respectable artists, wholesalers and retailers. Legislation governing the industry and the labeling of authentic arts and crafts produced by Native Americans was weak or non-existent. Where it did exist within several of the States, it was rarely enforced.

Realizing that if these conditions were to continue, the buying public would soon lose confidence in the intrinsic value of American Indian products, these individuals did what people in similar circumstances have done since ancient times. Rather than face the issue privately, they banded together and founded the "Indian Arts and Crafts Association" and incorporated it under the laws of the State of New Mexico.

~~~~~~~~~

When you are considering Native American art, please look for identification of your vendor as a member of the IACA. It is your best assurance that, if it says Native American Indian made, it is Native American Indian made.

Update: A tip of the Tribal Artery thank you hat to Native Art and BingoRage for link to this blog. Welcome Native Art and BingoRage readers.