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Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, after which the central location of the collection would be clear and the Smithsonian could go forward to explore meaningfully a joint venture concept. But whether the joint venture could justify the full museum on the Mall that is anticipated in S. 1722 needs to be carefully studied. There is the further question of whether the Smithsonian -- which is already faced with very large future responsibilities for the repair and restoration of its buildings, and which faces the responsibility of funding an extension of the National Air and Space Museum and has still not been able to find the funds for the restoration of the International Trade Commission Building (the Old Post Office Building) -- would be prepared for the substantial expenses involved in creating a parallel American Indian museum on the Mall. Distributing a report on projected expenses of both undertakings, Mr. Adams expressed concern that those expenses would seem to place in jeopardy other projects which have been on the Institution's agenda for a long time.

The Secretary also observed that the activities of the staff in the area of American Indian anthropology and ethnology have become so dominated by issues associated with the return of Native American collections, both sacred objects and skeletal remains, that other important responsibilities in the museum are being paralyzed. The prospect of developing training for members of the American Indian community as curators, conservators, and historians of their own history and culture is one area in which Smithsonian activities are no where near the scale they should assume.

Mr. Adams concluded by suggesting that these questions need further careful exploration, and accordingly he expressed the hope that the