The Arbitrary Indian: The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 [Hardcover]

Gail K. Sheffield (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Retired attorney Sheffield presents here a revised version of her Ph.D. dissertation in cultural anthropology, which was accepted by Tulane University in 1994. It focuses on an act that was supposed to stop trade in counterfeit Native American handicrafts that were being exported to the United States by foreign countries such as the Philippines and China and sold as authentic. The act defines an Indian as a member of a tribe recognized by the federal or state government, which has had the unintended consequence of sanctioning discrimination against Native Americans whose tribal affiliation was not officially recognized. The author shows that this definition has shifted power relationships among tribes and affected how they deal with state and federal authorities. Although difficult to read because of its dense prose and legal jargon, this is an important title. Highly recommended for specialized academic collections.?John Burch, Cumberland Coll. Lib., Williamsburg, Ky.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (November 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806129697
• ISBN-13: 978-0806129693
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,098,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful, comprehensive study of the major issues., September 3, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Cold Spring Harbor, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Arbitrary Indian: The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (Hardcover)

Gail Sheffield's book carries the credibility that her many years of legal practice bring to these issues. For anyone interested in the authenticity issues surrounding American Indian traditional arts and fine arts and cultrual property issues in general, this book is highly reccommended. As a discussion of the potential problems of legal definitions and vagaries within the written law (Indian Arts & Crafts Act of 1990) it doen't really break new ground, but it does illustrate the existing arguments in a balanced, fully supported way. One area where the book does suggest new issues is where she discusses the potential enforcement difficulties inherent in the final code. As a dealer of American Indian arts, I found the book thought-provoking and informative, but I hope that this work will not be the last word on this controversial new law.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for serious students of Indian culture., October 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arbitrary Indian: The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (Hardcover)

This difficult to read book is a must for anyone interested inIndian culture. Who is an Indian and "wannabees"and why, hasbeen throughly researched by Dr. Sheffield. The result is brilliant insight into the problems involving "Indian" identity today.

This is an academic endeavor filled with pertinent quotes from involved persons, and how each is affected by the regulations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.