{"id":18537,"date":"2021-11-24T17:56:39","date_gmt":"2021-11-24T22:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=18537"},"modified":"2021-11-30T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T00:00:00","slug":"fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/24\/fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Fraudulent Native artist charged with violating Indian Arts and Crafts Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n2T-mgzV3OY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">U.S. Department of the Interior: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/n2T-mgzV3OY>Secretary Deb Haaland on supporting Indian artists and the Indian Arts and Crafts Act<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Fraudulent Native artist charged with violating Indian Arts and Crafts Act<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Wednesday, November 24, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nA Washington man who claims to be a Native artist has been charged with violating the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/iacb\/act\">Indian Arts and Crafts Act<\/a> and for illegally possessing eagle feathers and other bird parts.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nLewis Anthony Rath, who goes by Tony Rath, claimed to be a part of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sancarlosapache.com\/home.htm\">San Carlos Apache Tribe<\/a>,  a federally recognized Indian nation in Arizona.  As such, he was marketing and promoting his works as \u201cIndian\u201d made, according to a federal complaint first <a href=https:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/apache-artist-tony-rath-faked-native-heritage-to-sell-his-work-feds-say>reported by The Daily Beast<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHowever, federal agents determined Rath was  \u201cnot a lineal descendant or an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, or any other federal or state recognized Indian tribe in the United States,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/19719952634.pdf\">November 23 complaint<\/a> reads.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-10>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/19719952634.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">19719952634<\/a>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cRATH admitted that he is not a lineal descendant or an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe,\u201d Sean W. Hyrons, a special agent with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<\/a>, writes in the 14-page filing. \u201cHe initially denied ever representing himself as an Apache from San Carlos to any of his customers, but later admitted telling his customers that he was San Carlos Apache. RATH subsequently claimed that his birth mother told him he had some Indian bloodlines that may be Apache.\u201d\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n \u201cHowever, he explained that he later discovered through DNA testing that he had Mayan ancestry from Mexico,\u201d Hyrons continued.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAs part of an investigation that included undercover agents, Hyrons said federal authorities discovered Rath&#8217;s works were being sold at two locations in Seattle: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ravenstreasure.com\">Raven\u2019s Nest Treasure<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/YeOldeCuriosity\/\">Ye Olde Curiosity Shop<\/a>. Both businesses said Rath held himself out to be an Indian and provided them with biographies claiming the same, according to the complaint.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHowever, the owner of Raven\u2019s Nest Treasure &#8212; identified in the filing by the initials \u201cMS\u201d &#8212; became reticent when interviewed in person by federal agents and \u201cstated he had never conspired or agreed with anyone to misrepresent goods sold at the gallery as Indian produced.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RUiE9verVs0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">\r\nMatthew Steinbrueck: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/RUiE9verVs0>Find your way to the Ravens Nest in Pike Place<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nYet \u201cMS\u201d previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BK1PHTUBV7f\/\">sold some  of Rath&#8217;s works<\/a> &#8212; a \u201ccarved, wooden totem pole and a necklace\u201d &#8212; to undercover agents for a total of $1,334.96, the complaint reads. He told the buyers the artist was \u201cNative American\u201d and provided them with the fraudulent biography,  according to the filing.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nAdditionally, \u201cMS\u201d  was selling  a carving made by Rath for  $750, the document states. Raven\u2019s Nest Treasure is <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/RUiE9verVs0\">located in historic Pike Place Market<\/a>, one of the most heavily trafficked tourist areas in Seattle. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAs for Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, located nearby  on the Seattle waterfront, undercover agents   were  able to purchase a \u201ccarved wooden mask and totem pole\u201d created by Rath for $1,085.04. Three other cravings were being sold there for a total of $1,270, and all were marketed as being made by an artist from the San Carlos Apache Tribe, according to the complaint.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nFederal agents also discovered Rath sold his works to someone through Facebook for a total of $1,050 and told the buyer he was \u201cApache, Mexican and Mayan.\u201d He told another person he was  \u201cApache and Mayan\u201d before asking her for  $700 for a \u201cbentwood box,\u201d the complaint states.\r\n<P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><P><\/P>\r\nThe Indian Arts and Crafts Act was first enacted in 1990. The federal law makes it a crime for someone to market their goods as \u201cIndian\u201d unless they are belong to a federally or state recognized tribe, or are certified as an \u201cIndian artist\u201d by a  federally or state recognized tribe.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe law is meant to protect consumers from buying fraudulent goods. But it also serves to protect the livelihoods of countless American Indian and Alaska Native artists, many of whom rely on their traditions, art, clothing and other items to make a living for themselves and their families.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, it is illegal to market art or craft products in a manner that falsely suggests it is Native American produced if it is not,&#8221;  <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecDebHaaland\">Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland<\/a>, who is the first Native person to serve in a presidential cabinet, said  in a <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/n2T-mgzV3OY>video in support of Indian  artists<\/a> that was produced earlier this year.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHaaland leads the <a href=https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/>Department of the Interior<\/a>, which includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose agents investigated Rath&#8217;s case.  In addition to discovering his art sales, they found him to be in possession of golden eagle feathers and parts of other migratory birds  without proper authorization.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-6>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/24\/fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act\/lewisrath2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18547\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" data-attachment-id=\"18547\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/24\/fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act\/lewisrath2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/lewisrath2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lewis Rath\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lewis Rath poses with a carving on one of his social media accounts.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/lewisrath2-1024x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/lewisrath2.jpg\" alt=\"Lewis Rath\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18547\" \/><\/a> <\/div><div class=col-6>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/24\/fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act\/lewisrath1\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18548\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18548\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/24\/fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act\/lewisrath1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/lewisrath1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lewis Rath\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lewis Rath poses with a carving on one of his social media accounts.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/lewisrath1-1024x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/lewisrath1.jpg\" alt=\"Lewis Rath\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18548\" \/><\/a> \r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Lewis Rath poses with   carvings on one of his social media accounts.<\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nDue to overhunting by non-Indians that diminished bald and golden eagle populations, eagle feathers and parts are often difficult  to come by for citizens of federally recognized tribes. Only recently have <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/03\/24\/a-historic-conservation-success-story-secretary-of-the-interior-deb-haaland\/>golden eagle populations rebounded<\/a>, Haaland announced earlier this year.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThe bald eagle has always been considered a sacred species to American Indian people,\u201d Haaland said in March.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe complaint does not indicate how Rath came into possession of golden eagle feathers and the parts of protected birds, including owls, hawks and crows. The items were seized from his home in January 2020, according to the filing.\r\n<p><\/p> \r\nIn addition to    the complaint,  Rath was <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/19719954001.pdf>issued a summons<\/a> on Tuesday to answer to the six charges against him. He was told to appear  on December 10 at the federal courthouse in Seattle, the document reads.\r\n<p><\/p> \r\nThe courthouse is part of the <a href=https:\/\/www.wawd.uscourts.gov>Western District of Washington<\/a>, which handles federal cases in the western part of the state.\r\nThe court recently saw the arrival of Lauren J. King, an attorney citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.muscogeenation.com\/>Muscogee Nation<\/a>  who is the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/05\/13\/indian-country-cheers-nomination-of-muscogee-nation-citizen-to-federal-bench\/>first Native federal judge<\/a> in Washington.\r\n <p><\/p> \r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/24\/fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act\/pikeplacemarket\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18558\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1711\" data-attachment-id=\"18558\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/24\/fraudulent-native-artist-charged-with-violating-indian-arts-and-crafts-act\/pikeplacemarket\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/pikeplacemarket-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1711\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;DSC-RX100M7&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1571256506&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;13.03&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.033333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Pike Place Market\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jimnix\/49327921688\/&gt;Jim Nix&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/pikeplacemarket-1024x684.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/pikeplacemarket-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Pike Place Market\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-18558\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jimnix\/49327921688\/>Jim Nix<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWashington is home to <a href=https:\/\/www.washingtontribes.org\/>29 federally recognized Indian nations<\/a>. Some of their tribal  traditions include totem poles and carvings like the ones Rath was marketing as his own. \r\n<p><\/p> \r\nA note on <a href=https:\/\/www.ravenstreasure.com\/nativeamerican>Raven\u2019s Nest Treasure&#8217;s website<\/a> reads: \u201cOut of respect for centuries-old traditions, we only carry authentic Native Art.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Read More on the Story<\/div>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/apache-artist-tony-rath-faked-native-heritage-to-sell-his-work-feds-say>\u2018Apache\u2019 Artist Faked Native Heritage to Sell His Work, Feds Say<\/a> (The Daily Beast November 24, 2021<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Washington man who claims to be a Native artist has been charged with violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and for illegally possessing eagle feathers and other bird parts.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,10,11,20,13,1],"tags":[101,88,2246,118,1323,1119,630,1623,2247,2261,47,597,2248,314],"class_list":["post-18537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-business","category-environment","category-indian-trust","category-law","category-national","tag-crime","tag-deb-haaland","tag-dna","tag-doi","tag-eagles","tag-fake-indians","tag-fws","tag-iaca","tag-lewis-anthony-rath","tag-pretendians","tag-race","tag-san-carlos-apache","tag-tony-rath","tag-washington","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/24\/pikeplacemarket-scaled.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-4OZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}