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designated national museums. Accordingly, it was

VOTED that the Board of Regents requests its Congressional members to introduce and support legislation to amend Sections 5315 and 5316 of Title 5, United States Code.

Discussion ensued about the status of legislation to establish a National African American Museum. The Secretary pointed out that movement on the legislation appears to be awaiting the emergence of a consensus among the Congressional Black Caucus. The Secretary indicated that at a hearing scheduled for September 21, 1989, in the House Administration Committee's Subcommittee on Libraries and Memorials, he is prepared to say that in the absence of such a consensus the Regents have not yet developed a position on the form and organizational relationships which the museum should take. The Secretary added that he and his staff will continue to enhance African American programming in Smithsonian bureaus and offices. At the same time they will do what they can to facilitate the development of a widely shared consensus. With that purpose in mind, a preliminary planning conference with many leading African American scholars has been planned for October; it is expected to be followed by a more formal colloquium at a conference center in the spring.

[[underlined]]NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN[[/underlined]]

It was noted that legislation authorizing the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian seems virtually assured, especially given agreements which have been reached with respect to the return of tribally identified human remains and funerary objects and with respect to assistance with cultural activities at the Audubon Terrace facility to be vacated by the Heye Foundation. The establishment of a committe to assist in the search for a director of the new National Museum has been enthusiastically received by the American Indian community, which represented in the majority of membership. A Program Committee is being formed to begin the program planning process in anticipation of creating a Board of Trustees for the Museum. Since that Board should be formally appointed as soon as the authorization is complete, appropriations are received, and the courts of New York have approved the Heye Foundation's agreement with the Smithsonian, action may need to be taken by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Regents prior to their January meeting.

In discussion several Regents noted that the Heye Foundation collections are of such transcending significance for the settlement of the entire Western Hemisphere, not simply North America, that consideration should be given to the selection of truly outstanding representatives of indigenous cultures to reflect that quality. Requirements of the legislation notwithstanding, the involvement of those other than Federally recognized tribes should be encouraged. In addition, the increasing importance of Latin American interests was noted and it was suggested that special attention be paid to their representation in the Museum.