Two Washington men charged for falsely claiming to be Native American artists in order to sell count

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

counterfeit art and craftwork

Washington residents Lewis Anthony Rath, 52, and Jerry Chris Van Dyke, 67, were investigated and charged for violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act by falsely representing themselves as Native American artists, despite the fact that neither has tribal membership or heritage, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Van Dyke was charged with two counts of misrepresentation of Indian produced goods and products after a complaint was filed against him with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for falsely claiming Nez Percé tribal membership, the DOJ said. A similar complaint was also filed against Rath, who falsely claimed to be a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Undercover investigators from the US Fish and Wildlife Service purchased pendants, totem poles, and masks made by Rath and Van Dyke from Seattle shops, where they were advertised as Native American artwork, according to the DOJ.

"By flooding the market with counterfeit Native American art and craftwork, these crimes cheat the consumer, undermine the economic livelihood of Native American artists, and impairs Indian culture," Edward Grace, assistant director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, said in a press release.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/two-washington-men-charged-for-falsely-claiming-to-be-native-american-artists-in-order-to-sell-counterfeit-art-and-craftwork/ar-AARJelT

[luckone]

1. minority cultural appropriation for cash.. Hmm ..double bad

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Jerry Van Dyke? Surely not... (JK)

[Journeyman]

3. A buddy of mine used to sell "authentic American Indian crafts made from a kit" . . .

We were in high school and like most people that age in need of money. That's when Gary hit on his idea. He was Diné, with a great sense of humor.

He bought cheesy kits for small leather bags with fringes. The two halves were "sewed" together (through pre-punched holes) with a rawhide cord that finished in drawstrings with plastic beads. He sold them at swap meets. Had a colorful banner printed with true truth in advertising: "Authentic American Indian Crafts Made from a Kit."

He sold 'em quicker than he could make 'em, had to bring his whole family into the business to keep up with demand. (Remember, this was just a few years before the Pet Rock craze, so people were primed to buy the ridiculous.)

I still have my bag. For years, I wore it tied to the pull strap of my boot. The fringes would peak out beneath my pant leg. Very fashionable in an era that prized fringe clothing. Now, it sits in a drawer in my office, a happy remembrance of my friend Gary, who moved back to the reservation in his late 20s and, sadly, passed away a year or two ago.