Sharon, in Alaska, the native people also get preferential treatment when it comes to raw material from the earth, and I think it's a good idea. It doesn't mean that that's all they can do, but hey, they were here a lot longer than any of the whites, and in that sense, it's part of their heritage.

So, only Native Alaskans (up here they're not called Native American, perhaps because Alaska came into the union late) can legally buy or sell or carve raw ivory (often fossilized walrus ivory, no elephant ivory). Whites can buy the finished product.

Also no white person can legally keep any part of any eagle; you can't even pick up a feather to stick in your hat or display in your car or cupboard. (Of course, many do- I've never seen Feather Patrols) The idea, I think, is to remove any suspicion of illegal activity.