(a) Establishment

There is established, within the Smithsonian Institution, a living memorial to Native Americans and their traditions which shall be known as the “National Museum of the American Indian”.

(b) Purposes

Terms Used In 20 USC 80q-1

  • National Museum: means the National Museum of the American Indian established by section 80q-1 of this title. See 20 USC 80q-14
  • Native American: means an individual of a tribe, people, or culture that is indigenous to the Americas and such term includes a Native Hawaiian. See 20 USC 80q-14
  • State: means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. See 1 USC 7

The purposes of the National Museum are to—

(1) advance the study of Native Americans, including the study of language, literature, history, art, anthropology, and life;

(2) collect, preserve, and exhibit Native American objects of artistic, historical, literary, anthropological, and scientific interest;

(3) provide for Native American research and study programs; and

(4) provide for the means of carrying out paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) in the District of Columbia, the State of New York, and other appropriate locations.