Native American repatriation in the auction industry: A transparent approach

Authors

  • Lia von Huben Revere Auctions, Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • Justine Lloyd Revere Auctions, Saint Paul, Minnesota

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26881/gsm.2020.18.07

Keywords:

Native American cultural heritage, restitution, transparency, auction industry, culturally sensitive materials

Abstract

United States legislation protecting Native American cultural heritage fails to extend to the private sector, allowing auction houses to continue contributing to the misappropriation and displacement of Native American cultural heritage. In response to this problem, Revere Auctions developed a Native American Objects Ethics Policy that lays out a transparent methodology for handling Native American cultural patrimony, with a focus on consultation with the Association of American Indian Affairs and Tribal government officials. By enacting this policy, we hope to help facilitate the repatriation of Native American cultural heritage and create new trends in the way the auction houses approach culturally sensitive materials.

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References

Association on American Indian Affairs, “Auction Alerts”, 2020, https://www.indian-affairs.org/ auction-alerts.html (accessed: 15.11.2020).

Association on American Indian Affairs, “Buyers Should Invest in Contemporary American Indian Art Instead of American Indian Antiquities”, News Release, 6 December 2018, https://www.scribd.com/document/395017777/2018-12-05-final-draft-statement-buyers-houldinvest-in-contemporary-art?secret_password=bxITfvaTI80gAJnGhvGl (accessed: 15.11.2020).

Association on American Indian Affairs, “Rago Auction Withdraws Native American Cultural Heritage Scheduled for Sale”, News Release, 7 October 2018, https://www.indian-affairs.org/ uploads/8/7/3/8/87380358/2018-10-17_rago_pr.pdf (accessed: 15.11.2020).

ATADA, Voluntary Returns Program, https://atada.org/voluntary-returns (accessed: 20.11.2020).

CCP Stuff, “AAIA Challenges Private Ownership of Native American Art”, Cultural Property News, 29 November 2018, https://culturalpropertynews.org/aaia-challenges-private-ownershipof-native-american-art/ (accessed: 10.11.2020).

Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Export of Objects of Cultural Interest, 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2017, https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/Export%20 Objects%20Cultural%20Interest1617_web.pdf (accessed: 20.11.2020).

Masurovsky M., “A Comparative Look at Nazi Plundered Art, Looted Antiquities, and Stolen Indigenous Objects”, North Carolina Journal of International Law 2020, vol. 45, no. 2.

National Congress of American Indians, Resolution SAC-12-008: Support for International Repatriation, https://www.ncai.org/attachments/Resolution_DuwbLqpfrhQZrLoqKUXshHYKXcvQNfLTUBIPSJWHSmpYZnFkOQL_SAC-12-008.pdf (accessed: 10.11.2020).

Native American Objects Ethics Statement, Revere Auctions, https://www.revereauctions.com/ native-american-objects-ethics-statement/ (accessed: 25.11.2020).

Reviewing Committee, Arts Council, https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-collections- -and-cultural-property/reviewing-committee#section-1 (accessed: 28.11.2020).

Sackler E.A., “Calling for a Code of Ethics in the Indian Art Market” [in:] Ethics and the Visual Arts, eds. E.A. King, G. Levin, Simon and Schuster, New York 2006.

Sources of law

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. § 3003(a), 1990.

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Published

2020-12-15

How to Cite

von Huben, L., & Lloyd, J. (2020). Native American repatriation in the auction industry: A transparent approach. Gdansk International Studies, 18(1-2), 90–99. https://doi.org/10.26881/gsm.2020.18.07

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Artykuły