Why Tribal Enrollment Verification Matters
Tribal enrollment is the gold standard for authenticity in Native American jewelry. It is the only verification method that ties an individual artist to a federally- or state-recognized tribe through official tribal records — not through the artist’s claim, the seller’s claim, or a marketing label.
Every artist whose work LomaSiiva sells is an enrolled tribal member. We have reviewed their enrollment documentation. We keep that documentation on file. This is the LomaSiiva moat: no other United States gallery publishes tribal enrollment verification at the artist level.
What tribal enrollment is
Each federally-recognized tribe in the United States maintains its own membership register. Enrollment criteria vary — most tribes require a documented blood quantum, lineal descent from a tribal roll (such as the Dawes Roll for the Five Civilized Tribes), or both. The enrolled member receives a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) or a tribal enrollment card issued by the tribe’s enrollment office.
An enrolled member is the only person whose Native American identity is documented at the federal level. Self-identification, family stories, ancestry-test percentages, and adopted tribal connections do not satisfy the legal definition under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
Why enrollment is the right benchmark for jewelry buyers
Other “authenticity” markers are weaker. A hallmark stamped into silver can be forged. A Certificate of Authenticity issued by a seller without verification is just a piece of paper. A claim of “Navajo-style” or “Southwest Native” is marketing language with no legal weight.
Tribal enrollment is verifiable. The tribal enrollment office can confirm membership. A buyer who asks “is this artist tribally enrolled, and through which tribe?” is asking the question that anchors every other authenticity claim.
What enrollment verification looks like at LomaSiiva
- An artist contacts us or is referred by another artist.
- We request a copy of their tribal enrollment card or CDIB. If they cannot or will not provide it, we do not carry their work.
- We review the document for the issuing tribe, the artist’s legal name, the enrollment number, and the date of issuance.
- We file the documentation in our verification archive, indexed to the artist’s LomaSiiva ID.
- Every piece by that artist is then traceable through that file. The Certificate of Authenticity that ships with each purchase references the artist’s LomaSiiva ID and the verification reference.
This process predates the catalog. We don’t add an artist first and verify later; we verify first and only then list their work.
Why other galleries don’t do this
Honest answer: it’s coordination work. Each artist’s enrollment must be verified individually. The documentation must be maintained. Some artists are reluctant to share enrollment cards with a gallery. The path of least resistance — trust the artist’s claim, ask no questions — is far simpler.
That convenience is exactly how the market got flooded with imports stamped with fake hallmarks and Etsy listings labeled “Native American” with no documentation. A buyer who insists on tribal enrollment verification is, individually, the line of defense the federal law was written to support but rarely sees enforced.
What this means for your purchase
When you buy from LomaSiiva, you receive:
- A piece made by a verified, tribally-enrolled artist.
- A Certificate of Authenticity naming the artist and tribe.
- The implicit legal protection of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, because the underlying claim — that this piece is Native American — is documented and verifiable.
- Provenance that holds up if you insure the piece, donate it, gift it, or resell it later.
None of these are guaranteed at marketplace listings, tourist-trap shops, or mass-import “Indian jewelry” vendors. The verification is what separates LomaSiiva, and it is the reason the same dollar buys substantively different value.
Related
- The Indian Arts and Crafts Act, explained
- LomaSiiva’s verification process step-by-step
- How to spot fake Native American jewelry
Updated 2026. LomaSiiva — The Only Authentic.