"U.S. Census 2010 forms are zipping through the mail system, yet many people have no idea how crucial an accurate count is for Americans, especially American Indians and Alaskan Natives. During these economic times with extreme poverty rates on tribal reservations, the call to action has reached emergency levels. An accurate count can ensure governmental assistance for important services long promised but not delivered to American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
The Census counts every resident in the United States and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. An accurate count of the 4 million-plus American Indians or Alaskan Natives in the 2010 Census stands to make the most difference for these Americans who are by treaty entitled to federal aid for schools, law enforcement, health and housing. The history of broken treaties, broken governmental promises, forced removal from ancestral lands and boarding school abuse memories, however, remain vivid in the minds of many presentday American-Indian people, causing mistrust and increasing the prospects for an inaccurate count.
The importance of filling out the form correctly is essential for individual tribal funding. The Oneida tribe of Wisconsin's membership, for example, was undercounted in the 2000 Census. Only about 900 members of the tribe were counted, a far cry from the approximately 14,000 people enrolled at the time. Many were lumped in with members of the Oneida Nation in New York. This inaccuracy went unnoticed until after the forms were returned. This time, education efforts will instruct members to write "Oneida Tribe of WI" on their forms after checking off the section on race.
The need for accurate counting of American Indians extends to urban areas. California has more than 100 federally recognized tribal groups. The 2000 Census estimated 90 percent of California American Indians lived in cities, due to the federal policies of relocation and extreme economic conditions (past and present) causing people to go off the reservation to make a living. Many become homeless. An accurate count allows government-funded organizations to provide social and health services to urban American Indians."
Get the Story:Sarah Eagle Heart: This count counts (Episcopal News Service 3/29) Related Stories:
Rod Van Mechelen: Check Indian ancestry on the Census (3/23)
Opinion: Indigenous identities hidden by 2010 Census (3/4)
San Manuel Band welcomes 2010 count on reservation (3/3)
Delvin Cree: Census counts especially on reservations (2/1)
Census Bureau kicks off 2010 count in Inupiat village (1/25)