Effective Date: 3/15/02

Series: Organization

Part 110: Office of the Secretary

Chapter 27: Indian Arts and Crafts Board

Originating Office: Indian Arts and Crafts Board

27.1 Creation. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board (Board) was established by an Act of Congress, Public Law 74-355 (25 U.S.C. 305). It consists of five Commissioners, who are appointed to four-year terms by the Secretary of the Interior. The Commissioners employ a professional staff to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities.

27.2 Functions.

A. The top priority of the Board is the enforcement and implementation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (Act), which was enacted by the Congress in response to growing sales of arts and crafts products misrepresented as being produced by Indians.

(1) The Act is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits marketing of products as "Indian made" when such products are not made by Indians as defined by the Act. It is intended to protect Indian artists and craftspeople, businesses, and tribes, as well as consumers.

(2) The Act also protects Indian cultural heritage and supports the move of the tribes and their members toward achieving economic self-reliance.

B. The Board also promotes the development of contemporary Native American arts and crafts - the creative work of American Indians and Alaska Native people.

C. The Board provides services to federally recognized tribes and their members, such as arts and crafts market research and promotion; assistance with intellectual property matters, including trademark registration; business development assistance and technical advice; and correlation of public and private programs.

27.3 Organization.

A. The Commissioners determine the overall policies of the Board and supervise their implementation. They also furnish expert advice to the Secretary on Native American cultural matters.

B. A Director serves as the chief executive officer and is responsible for direction and coordination of all Board activities, including consumer protection and enforcement of the Act, economic development and cultural preservation, and related long-range planning and public, professional, and governmental relations.

C. The Museum and Exhibition Staff is responsible for all museum and exhibition activities to promote authentic Indian arts and crafts through the operation of the Sioux Indian Museum, Rapid City, South Dakota; Southern Plains Indian Museum, Anadarko, Oklahoma; and Museum of the Plains Indian, Browning, Montana. These activities include the distribution of consumer protection information on the Indian Art and Crafts Act, liaison between the field and the Washington office regarding complaints under the Act, as well as the production of economic development, and cultural preservation publications and programs.

D. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act Enforcement Staff is responsible for receiving, processing, evaluating, and referring complaints, in coordination with the Office of the Solicitor, to the Department of Justice for investigation and prosecution, under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-644) as amended (Public Law 106-497). The staff also educates the Indian arts and crafts industry, Indian tribes, Indian artists and craftspeople, consumers, and the general public about the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and related intellectual property matters.

E. The Market Development Staff is responsible for a wide range of activities to promote the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and the work of Indian artists and craftspeople, Indian owned and operated arts and crafts businesses, and the tribes. These include the development, production, and distribution of publications and advertisements to raise the visibility and understanding of, and compliance with, the Indian Arts and Crafts Act; informational brochures on similar intellectual property matters, such as trademark registration, and the Source Directory of Indian owned and operated arts and crafts businesses. The staff also provides technical assistance to Indian arts and crafts businesses, museums and cultural centers, and tribes on business development and related marketing programs.

F. The Administrative Staff is responsible for budget, financial, personnel, procurement, and property management. The majority of the administrative services are carried out with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs staff and facilities.

27.4 Public Information. All requests for information should be addressed to the Director, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.

3/15/02 #3395

Replaces 8/20/75 #1786