Customer Reviews

The Arbitrary Indian: The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990

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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.

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.