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2008 State-Recognized Tribes and American Indian and Alaska Native Organizations Working Meetings: Final Report

Report Number D-3230

Executive Summary

In the summer of 2008, in preparation for the 2010 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau planned a series of three working meetings to be held with state-recognized tribes, national and state American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) organizations, intertribal alliances, and urban Indian centers and organizations to gain input into how to obtain an accurate count of state-recognized tribal members and AIANs in the upcoming decennial census. The meetings were coordinated with the assistance of an American Indian-owned firm, Kauffman & Associates, Inc. They were held in Raleigh, NC; Green Bay, WI/Oneida Nation; and Albuquerque, NM, with a total attendance of 114 participants. Of these participants, 65 were from state-recognized tribes, including 37 tribal leaders, and 33 were from AIAN organizations. Census Bureau regional and headquarters staff also attended these meetings, including Census Bureau leadership from both the regional and headquarters offices.

Agenda topics gave an overview of the Census Bureau and the 2010 Census as well as several important Census Bureau programs, including Population (Racial Statistics), Geography, 2010 Census Communications Campaign, Partnership and Data Services Program, 2010 Recruiting Program, and the American Community Survey.

The meetings were intended to promote a dialogue between the Census Bureau staff and the tribal participants. Throughout the meetings, participants asked questions, shared concerns, and offered insights and recommendations. The Census Bureau listened carefully to the participants’ insights and provided answers and feedback as appropriate.

The 2008 Working Meetings between the Census Bureau, state-recognized tribes, nonrecognized tribes, AIAN organizations, and urban Indian centers were an opportunity for AIANs to learn about the importance of the decennial census and the American Community Survey and provide their input into how the Census Bureau can achieve success in gaining an accurate count.

Several key recommendations were provided by participants, as listed below.

  • Seek AIAN Input Earlier. Participants want their recommendations to be relevant to the census process, and if their input is sought after key decisions have already been made (e.g., the wording of census forms), then they felt that there was little value in giving recommendations.
  • Use Tribal Enrollment Numbers. The Census Bureau should use tribal enrollment numbers to get an accurate count.
  • Change the Proposed Decennial Census Form. The proposed decennial census form should be changed so that the race question (question 9) is less confusing. The recommendation was that the Census Bureau should increase the number of blocks provided for writing down tribe names and make it clearer that people can mark the “American Indian or Alaska Native” checkbox even if they do not have a tribe name to write down. Some participants also felt that AIANs should not be asked to specify a tribe name at all.
  • Be Inclusive of Tribes and Urban Indians. Specifically, participants recommended that changes to the proposed decennial census form should be made with input from tribes and from urban Indians to be sure that the question on race meets the varying needs of the diverse members of the AIAN population.
  • Do a Better Job of Reaching Out to Urban Indians. National urban Indian organizations requested that the Census Bureau seek their input on how to best reach urban Indian populations to help educate them to answer the race question correctly. Another recommendation was to run a public service announcement (PSA) in urban areas, educating urban Indians that they can go to urban Indian organizations to get support in accurately filling out the 2010 Census form. Another suggestion was for the Census Bureau to coordinate a regional meeting of urban Indian organizations so that this group could work together to make recommendations to the Census Bureau.
  • Allow Sufficient Time to Establish the Right State Designated Tribal Statistical Area (SDTSA). Because the SDTSA was seen as a very important geographic program, it was recommended that sufficient time be allowed for state-recognized tribes to review, clarify, and change boundaries if necessary.
  • Be Inclusive in Approach. Participants saw an opportunity for the Census Bureau to improve its inclusiveness in reaching all sectors of the AIAN population when conducting outreach and communications campaigns.
  • Be Local and National in Reach. Some people did not remember seeing any of the Census 2000 advertisements. Other people remembered but were sitting next to people who had never seen the ads. Participants urged the Census Bureau to be local, regional, and national in their reach when placing media buys and advertising.
  • Provide Outreach and Promotional Materials Early. The specific recommendation was that tribes and organizations need 2010 Census promotional materials much sooner than the Census Bureau is intending to provide them. Participants wanted materials at least 1 full year in advance.
  • Hire From Within the Community. This issue was very important to participants. They stated numerous times that cultural sensitivity is an important part of hiring, and many participants felt strongly that someone from outside their culture would not be able to do the job of enumeration effectively. Some participants, specifically from state-recognized tribes, went so far as to say that their tribe’s members would refuse to answer the door or give any information to a person who was not a member of their community.
  • Provide Training on the Use of ACS Data. Because participants were concerned about the integrity of data, they suggested that the Census Bureau should offer training on how to accurately use the ACS data.

Page Last Revised - December 16, 2021
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