More and more Americans are claiming American Indian or Alaska Native heritage, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

As of 2007, 4.5 million Americans claims Native heritage. That's a 10 percent increase from 4.1 million in 2000.

"There's less of a stigma with Indians identifying themselves than there was in the past," Jacqueline Johnson Pata, the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, told USA Today.

The Census doesn't measure tribal enrollment. Respondents can also report more than one racial or ethnic heritage.

Get the Story:
For payout or pride, more claim Native American heritage (USA Today 9/12)