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Auction Alerts
The Association on American Indian Affairs is providing this list of upcoming domestic and international auctions that may contain sensitive indigenous cultural heritage items. If you are aware of other auctions containing potentially sensitive cultural items, please reach out to the Association on American Indian Affairs so we can add them to the list. If you have any facts that may support a claim of theft or looting, please immediately contact either BIA Special Agent Franklin Chavez, franklin.chavez@bia.gov / 505-228-8053, or FBI Supervisory Special Agent Tim Carpenter, tscarpenter@fbi.gov / 202-324-5525. |
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For Indigenous Nations
There are many different federal, state and Tribal laws that may apply to sensitive cultural items that have been misappropriated, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, among others. If you see items that may be sensitive to your Family, Band, Tribe or Nation, please contact the Association on American Indian Affairs and inform us of the situation. We can support your efforts toward repatriation by providing technical assistance, strategies, and making connections with other Tribes, non-profits, law firms, auction houses, and other organizations and pool our resources to support your repatriation efforts.
For Auction Houses, Dealers and Collectors of Indigenous “Antiquities”, “Artifacts”, or “Art”
In order to ensure that the item you hold is saleable, you must contact an official Tribal representative of the Tribe or indigenous group that may be affiliated with the item. Often, information about the origination of an item has been manipulated and the affiliated Tribe is the only appropriate expert to confirm whether an item is saleable or has been misappropriated. The Association is available to work with auction houses, collectors, museums, and others who are seeking to work within federal, state and Tribal laws, as well as meeting consumer professional and due diligence requirements to sell and own Native American items. The Association always recommends supporting contemporary Native artists, and not to purchase antiquities or artifacts.
If you have questions or concerns about items in your possession, please reach out to the Association and we can assist in finding information about your items and make appropriate connections with official Tribal government representatives. In many cases, items can be charitably donated back to their respective Tribes or through a non-profit like the Association, or other suitable arrangements can be made for return.
There are many different federal, state and Tribal laws that may apply to sensitive cultural items that have been misappropriated, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, among others. If you see items that may be sensitive to your Family, Band, Tribe or Nation, please contact the Association on American Indian Affairs and inform us of the situation. We can support your efforts toward repatriation by providing technical assistance, strategies, and making connections with other Tribes, non-profits, law firms, auction houses, and other organizations and pool our resources to support your repatriation efforts.
For Auction Houses, Dealers and Collectors of Indigenous “Antiquities”, “Artifacts”, or “Art”
In order to ensure that the item you hold is saleable, you must contact an official Tribal representative of the Tribe or indigenous group that may be affiliated with the item. Often, information about the origination of an item has been manipulated and the affiliated Tribe is the only appropriate expert to confirm whether an item is saleable or has been misappropriated. The Association is available to work with auction houses, collectors, museums, and others who are seeking to work within federal, state and Tribal laws, as well as meeting consumer professional and due diligence requirements to sell and own Native American items. The Association always recommends supporting contemporary Native artists, and not to purchase antiquities or artifacts.
If you have questions or concerns about items in your possession, please reach out to the Association and we can assist in finding information about your items and make appropriate connections with official Tribal government representatives. In many cases, items can be charitably donated back to their respective Tribes or through a non-profit like the Association, or other suitable arrangements can be made for return.
List of Upcoming Auctions
1/17/20
Cowan's Auctions - Modern and Contemporary Native American Art, Cincinnati, OH
Contact: P: 513-871-1670 E: info@cowans.com Link
1/19/20
Yardley Antiques - Buried Treasures: Historical Ephemera, books, photographs & more, Pennsburg, PA
Contact:; Nessa Rosenfeld E: nessa@yardleyantiques.com Link
1/19/20
Mike Nichol's Auctions - Indian Artifact Auction, Warren, AR
Contact: Mike Nichols P: 501-590-6771, 501-590-9755 E: mainstantiques@att.net Link
1/19/20
Stony Ridge Auction - E. Roosevelt, Americana, & Quality Antiques, Lemoyne, OH
Contact: Jane and Dan P: 419-297-9045 E: jane@stonyridgeauction.com Link
1/19/20
Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers - Folk Art & Textiles from the collection of Two Sisters, Washington, DC, plus Addi, Columbus, OH
Contact: P: 740-362-4771 E: info@garths.com Link
1/22/20
C&T Auctioneers & Valuers - The Property of a Gentleman including Antiques & Collectibles, Ethnographical Arms..., Kent, England, UK
Contact: Matthew Tredwen P: +44 1233 510050, +44 7850 329378 E: Matthew@candtauctioneers.co.uk Link
1/23/20 11:00am EST
Stair Auction, Hudson NY - Native American Art
Contact: 518-751-1000 Link
1/25/20
Culturalpatina - January Timed Ethnographic and Art Auction, Fairfax Station, VA
Contact: Dennis Brining P: 703-503-8019 E: dlbent@aol.com Link
1/25/20 5:00pm MST
Brian Lebel's Old West Auction, Mesa, AZ
Contact: P: 480-779-WEST (9378) E: contactus@oldwestevents.com Link
1/27/20
Sotheby - Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana, New York City, NY
Contact: P: 212-606-7000 E: enquiries@sothebys.com Link
Cowan's Auctions - Modern and Contemporary Native American Art, Cincinnati, OH
Contact: P: 513-871-1670 E: info@cowans.com Link
1/19/20
Yardley Antiques - Buried Treasures: Historical Ephemera, books, photographs & more, Pennsburg, PA
Contact:; Nessa Rosenfeld E: nessa@yardleyantiques.com Link
1/19/20
Mike Nichol's Auctions - Indian Artifact Auction, Warren, AR
Contact: Mike Nichols P: 501-590-6771, 501-590-9755 E: mainstantiques@att.net Link
1/19/20
Stony Ridge Auction - E. Roosevelt, Americana, & Quality Antiques, Lemoyne, OH
Contact: Jane and Dan P: 419-297-9045 E: jane@stonyridgeauction.com Link
1/19/20
Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers - Folk Art & Textiles from the collection of Two Sisters, Washington, DC, plus Addi, Columbus, OH
Contact: P: 740-362-4771 E: info@garths.com Link
1/22/20
C&T Auctioneers & Valuers - The Property of a Gentleman including Antiques & Collectibles, Ethnographical Arms..., Kent, England, UK
Contact: Matthew Tredwen P: +44 1233 510050, +44 7850 329378 E: Matthew@candtauctioneers.co.uk Link
1/23/20 11:00am EST
Stair Auction, Hudson NY - Native American Art
Contact: 518-751-1000 Link
1/25/20
Culturalpatina - January Timed Ethnographic and Art Auction, Fairfax Station, VA
Contact: Dennis Brining P: 703-503-8019 E: dlbent@aol.com Link
1/25/20 5:00pm MST
Brian Lebel's Old West Auction, Mesa, AZ
Contact: P: 480-779-WEST (9378) E: contactus@oldwestevents.com Link
1/27/20
Sotheby - Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana, New York City, NY
Contact: P: 212-606-7000 E: enquiries@sothebys.com Link
Please contact the Association at
general.aaia@indian-affairs.org
or 240-314-7155
Together, we can protect Native American cultural heritage!
general.aaia@indian-affairs.org
or 240-314-7155
Together, we can protect Native American cultural heritage!
