For indigenous people, the arts provide a means of expression used for the maintenance and transmission of culture. For many people in Indian Country, creating various works of art also provides financial stability, providing much-needed income for supporting one’s family. While it is hard to estimate how much revenue the Native arts and crafts industry generates each year, it is apparent that the interest is vast, not only in the United States but worldwide. This entices many individuals and businesses to produce “Native-Inspired” products. The interest and marketability of Native art force legitimate Native artists to find ways to protect their work.

In this webinar, Cherokee attorney Tahlina Nofire-Blakestad will teach participants how to utilize protective measures to help ensure their work and the work of other Native artists are not misused or misrepresented.  Strategies for protecting Native works of art that Tahlina will cover in the webinar include:

• Copyright Protection
• Indian Arts and Crafts Act
• Peer Support Systems

The workshop will take place on Friday, May 7th at 12:00 pm Mountain Time.  This workshop will be delivered online utilizing the Zoom platform.  The workshop can be taken on computers and smartphones.

You can register by visiting: www.iaia.edu/cecourses

There is a $9 registration fee payable to IAIA Continuing Education

Tahlina Nofire is the owner of Nofire Law and Consulting and has been a practicing attorney for 15 years. She represents clients in various areas of the law including restricted land cases, real estate transactions, health law, ICW, victim rights and consulting with Native owned small businesses. Most recently, she was the general counsel for the Tribal Council of the Cherokee Nation.

She received her law degree with a certificate in Native America Law from the University of Tulsa in 2005. Before entering private practice, she was the Assistant Corporate Compliance Officer for Cherokee Nation Entertainment, where she managed gaming operations compliance.

She currently sits on the board of directors for the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, a state-wide agency promoting mental health awareness, suicide prevention and criminal justice reform. She is a certified QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention instructor.

Tahlina lives near Tahlequah, OK and is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, seeing live music, going to the beach and discovering new sights and adventures with her boys.

This workshop is sponsored by the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Continuing Education program.

For more information about the Institute of American Indian Arts Continuing Education Program, please visit: iaia.edu/outreach/continuing-education/