Today, Native Americans living in the lands visited by the Corps of Discovery two centuries ago belong to two nations. They are American citizens working in their communities, paying taxes, sending their young people to serve in the military, and speaking out on public issues. But these people also belong to sovereign Indian nations that view their homelands as part of a country that demands a different kind of loyalty and service.

Modern tribes exercise many governmental powers. Through the efforts of Native American leaders, reforms within the federal government, and civil rights struggles in many Western communities, Native Americans have won recognition for their legal and constitutional rights. Across the West, Indians vote, hold office, and participate in every aspect of community life.

Indian people are proud to live in the United States, but they are also determined to sustain the values and practices of their ancestors. Presented here are a few of the ways in which they are working successfully to sustain and rebuild the traditions of the Indian country in the twenty-first century. These men and women feel no divided loyalties. They believe that by building the Indian country, they are building a better America.