Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002

A Connecticut man who claims to be the rightful leader of the Mohegan Tribe says he has been ripped off by a group of artists selling Indian crafts.

Moigu Standing Bear won't pay $2,359 for jewelry from an artisans' co-op in Mexico called Artcamp. He says the items were illegally labeled as Indian-made in violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

Artcamp says it never marketed the goods as Indian made. A member of the co-op has been circulating an e-mail which says Standing Bear refuses to pay.

Standing Bear is the leader of the Mohegan Tribe and Nation Inc., also known as the Confederation of the Mohegan-Pequot American Indian Nation and Affiliated Tribes Inc.

Get the Story:
Jewelry bill dispute: Is it good Bear or bad Bear? Crafters see deadbeat; Standing Bear says he guards Indian integrity (The New London Day 4/8)

Relevant Links:
Artcamp - http://www.artcamp.com.mx
The Indian Arts and Crafts Board (currently inactive) - http://www.doi.gov/iacb

Related Stories:
Artists taking law into own hands (3/28)
Johnnie Cochran representing 'tribe' (3/11)
Judge dismisses 'other' Mohegans (2/21)
Status of Sioux dog in limbo (1/18)
Sioux woman arrested on animal cruelty (1/17)
Alleged tribe racks up more fines (1/11)
Alleged tribe starts registering cars (1/10)
Conn. 'tribe' makes fixes to building (12/21)
Battle over 'sovereign' building continues (12/14)
Group's building subject of dispute (12/6)
Fines piling up for new tribe (11/30)
Conn. group claims sovereign status (11/29)