Judge: Oklahoma’s Indian Art Law Preempted Due To Conflict With Federal Statute

Mealey's (April 2, 2019, 12:40 PM EDT) -- OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma law limiting who can sell American Indian artwork in the state is preempted by the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (IACA) because the state law unconstitutionally disturbs the purpose of the IACA to promote and develop Native American art, an Oklahoma federal judge held March 28 in awarding an Indian artist summary judgment on her challenge to the state statute (Peggy Fontenot v. Mike Hunter, No. 16-1339, W.D. Okla., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52859)....