A Look Into the Life, Music and Art of American Indians

28 November 2010

Mahli Jaynae Bell, left, and Shaye Mackinzie, of the Mississippi band of Choctaw Indians, and Mary Anne Guoladdie, of the Wichita affiliated tribes, attend a heritage month program at the Justice Department in Washington

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I’m Shirley Griffith.

STEVE EMBER: And I'm Steve Ember. November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States. This week on our program, we explore the modern life, music and art of American Indians.

(MUSIC: “The Dance”/Joseph FireCrow)

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Native Americans have had a busy year in Washington.

Earlier this year, Congress passed the Tribal Law and Order Act. This new law aims to give tribes more power to fight crime on the lands they govern. The goal is to increase communication and cooperation between tribal and federal law enforcement agencies and the court system.

President Obama also signed another bill into law, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. It provides more resources for tribal communities. It was included as part of the big health-care law passed by Congress.

STEVE EMBER: In October, the Department of Agriculture agreed to settle a discrimination case brought by Indian farmers. The farmers said the department had unfairly denied them farm loans.