Artist who falsely claimed Native American heritage sentenced for violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act

05/17/2023

Last edited 06/03/2025

A 67-year-old Western Washington artist was sentenced today to 18 months of federal probation for violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) by representing himself as a Native American artist, when he had no tribal enrollment or heritage, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jerry Chris Van Dyke aka Jerry Witten, of Seattle, pleaded guilty in March 2023.

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Artist who falsely claimed Native American heritage sentenced for violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act

Sioux Indian Museum features the work of local Oglala Lakota artist Roger Broer

Final defendant sentenced in local Indian Arts and Crafts Act case

Sioux Indian Museum Presents an Exhibition on Oscar Howe and His Students

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