Fall 2020

War God Carving Returned to Zuni Pueblo by Cowan's Auctions

In late August, a 15-inch wooden war god which had been consigned to Cowan’s Auctions was returned to Zuni Pueblo. Danica Farnand, who is Cowan’s Director of Native American art and an ATADA Board Member, recognized the cultural significance of the carving and worked with the consignor to return it through ATADA’s Voluntary Returns program.
Read more about the return of this item ➤

A Zuni Pottery Jar via Wikimedia Commons, Sailko / CC BY

A Zuni Pottery Jar
via Wikimedia Commons, Sailko / CC BY

Our commitment to building trust and finding solutions:

ATADA is committed to working with sovereign Native Nations to find solutions to issues of cultural patrimony. In 2016, ATADA created the Voluntary Returns Program which is community-based initiative designed to bring sacred and highly valued ceremonial objects to Native American tribes. Returns take place through a consultative process in which ATADA representatives work directly with community and spiritual leaders of Native Nations.

ATADA President, Kim Martindale notes:

"This Zuni War God is just one of over 300 items that the Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association has helped to return to sovereign Native Nations. ATADA has also worked on a number of returns of objects to indigenous communities globally. As an organization, the Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association has pursued an open dialog with Native Nations and indigenous communities in order to return essential cultural items to them on a purely voluntary basis. The items that have been returned were purchased legally. However, as our understanding developed, our art dealer members and many collectors have grown to understand how important these items are. We recognized the need to return key cultural items regardless of their legal status and that's why we started the Voluntary Returns program. We’ve also incorporated descriptions of items that are not appropriate to trade in into our organization’s Bylaws. Our commitment to work with all Native Nations and indigenous communities is clear. We want to ensure that the Native American art market remains a viable and flourishing one for both Native artists and promoters of authentic indigenous items and that it continues to work to safeguard and preserve cultural treasures."

You can learn more about the Voluntary Returns Program at: https://atada.org/voluntary-returns

World Customs Organization Report: Heritage Trafficking Is Tiny Percentage of Illegal Trade

Eight coins from Afghanistan, including two U.S. silver quarters. Courtesy World Customs Organization.

Eight coins from Afghanistan, including two U.S. silver quarters. Courtesy World Customs Organization.

In recent years, critics of the art trade, and more specifically the antiquities trade, have claimed there is a multi-billion dollar black market for illicit items which helps fund nefarious activities such as terrorism. 

The Illicit Trade Report 2019, published by the World Customs Organization, shows that the true scale of cultural property smuggling is actually quite small, especially when compared to other forms of illegal trade such as drugs, counterfeit goods and weapons. 

In his article published on Cultural Property News website, Ivan Macquisten notes that, "The 200-page Illicit Trade Report reveals that cultural property accounts for just 0.2 percent of all investigations and seizures reported by the Customs Enforcement Network." 

For some perspective, Macquisten further states, "...of the 102,214 cases investigated in 2019, just 227 involved cultural heritage. This compares to 36,264 for drugs, over 28,000 for counterfeit goods including medical supplies and over 26,000 for alcohol and tobacco..."
This small share of cases is not sufficient to fund terrorism. 

Read Macquisten's full article ➤

Download the WCO Illicit Trade Report for 2019 ➤

ATADA Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund

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To date, we have raised over $20,000 to help provide necessary supplies, food and water to Native American communities that have been hit especially hard by the ongoing pandemic. This is an ongoing effort and we continue to seek donations until the need has passed. 

We know that times may be tight and that the future is unknown. We are asking you to give what you can. Whether it is $20 or $1,000 - any and everything helps. Please help us to reach our current goal of $30,000. 
Please visit atada.org/atada-foundation to make your tax-deductible donation today!

$20,932

Goal $30,000