Native Culture

[MSUK]

Artifacts are a major portion of an American-Indian reser-
vation's economy. Annually, thousands of tourists visit
reservations and most will not leave without purchasing at
least one memento of the traditional Indian culture.

One enterprising Indian was able to outsell his competitors
in the sale of wooden dolls by selling them at only a
fraction of the cost others had to charge. On examination
of his dolls they found that where traditionally hard wood
was used, this Indian would use cheap pine on which he glued
thin pieces of fine mahogany, thus being able to produce
the dolls at only a fraction of the cost.

While he claimed his dolls were still authentic, his com-
petitors complained that it was only a cheap Sioux Veneer.