Indigenous people have lived on the land we now call North America for millennia. They thrived on this land establishing structured governments, treaties, and alliances that are relevant today. They have preserved their culture, language, and governance structure, while continuing to lead with dignity and resilience.

As the nation’s premier statistical agency, the U.S. Census Bureau produces data that illuminate the diversity of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people and their communities. We honor the histories, cultures, and resilience of all indigenous people and communities in our nation. We do this by recognizing the obligation to engage and collect their input on the economic and demographic data we collect on their behalf.

We provide tribes and the people of Indian Country with data products that help AIAN populations make informed decisions on how to improve their communities. For instance, the 2020 Census included detailed data on 1,187 AIAN tribes and villages, reflecting the breadth and distinctiveness of AIAN communities. Additionally, statistical products developed for AIAN tribes and villages have proven to be powerful tools to inform their decision-making, identify tribal needs, and set priorities. Accurate, disaggregated data are critical for addressing disparities — and their collection and use must align with the principles of indigenous self-determination and sovereignty.

To support this, the 2026 Census Test will include three sites on tribal lands. Through this field test, we will evaluate proposed changes and innovations in six operational areas to improve the feasibility and effectiveness of our enumeration methods to count everyone in the decennial headcount. All of these will include aspects that either directly or indirectly help us enumerate hard-to-count and historically undercounted populations, including AIAN populations living on reservations.

In addition, initiatives such as our Tribal Relations Program, Statistical Products First, and the recent historic Memorandum of Agreement with the Osage Nation prioritize consulting with AIAN communities in data collection and highlight the importance of practices that build trust and respect.

Today, I want to share two upcoming events and initiatives that highlight our commitment to providing quality data on the AIAN community — including opportunities for you to be involved. I hope you’ll attend our events and provide input; your feedback will lead to better, more inclusive data.

The importance of AIAN data is why we’re starting our preparations for the 2030 Census count in Indian Country early — to include seeking feedback on how detailed race and ethnicity will be coded in the next census.

Right now, the Census Bureau is undertaking a Race/Ethnicity Coding Improvement Project to determine how detailed race/ethnicity and AIAN populations will be coded in the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2030 Census. This is important because the way that detailed race/ethnicity responses are coded connects directly to how published estimates and counts are tabulated.

In November, we released a Federal Register notice (FRN) asking for public feedback to improve the race/ethnicity code list. Public feedback on the code list is essential to making sure future data on race/ethnicity groups accurately reflect our nation’s diverse population.

Feedback from the public will help the Census Bureau more accurately collect, process, and tabulate detailed racial, ethnic, and tribal responses reported in the race/ethnicity question. The Census Bureau is seeking input on any terms or groups that are missing​ from the code list, how groups are classified, alternative terms, abbreviations, in-language terms for groups on the code list​, and the utility of regional groups​ as used in the 2020 Census code list.

Throughout the FRN comment period, we are engaging with stakeholders to learn more about the various ways diverse communities may identify in the race/ethnicity question. For instance, we are holding two tribal consultation national webinars with federal- and state-recognized tribes to provide a forum for them to learn about the Race/Ethnicity Coding Improvement Project and provide guidance on submitting feedback. The first consultation was held on December 11, 2024, and the second will be on January 15, 2025.

These tribal consultations provide information on how to interpret and understand the code list and its impact on the data tribes and villages receive. Tribal leaders can provide alternative terms, abbreviations, or in-language terms that individuals may use to identify themselves as citizens of their tribes and any groups that may be missing or misclassified in the code list. This input helps us improve our data — the data we provide to AIAN communities as part of our mission.

Feedback from tribal leaders, along with other comments from the public, will inform how detailed write-in responses to the new combined race/ethnicity question will be processed and published in data products.

You can provide feedback on our code list through February 18, 2025. For instructions on how to do so, refer to our Federal Register notice. To attend our tribal consultation on January 15, visit our registration page.

Our collection and production of AIAN data must align with the principles of indigenous self-determination and sovereignty. Indigenous people have a fundamental, inherent ownership of the stewardship, application, and use of their data. We are committed to reaffirming and upholding indigenous data sovereignty.

To highlight our commitment, on February 12, 2025, the Census Bureau will host an Indigenous Data Sovereignty Symposium. This event will showcase world-renowned indigenous scholars and researchers to speak on the topics of indigenous tribal sovereignty and data governance.

The Census Bureau will also inform participants on our tribal consultation practices — ensuring tribal sovereignty is recognized upfront in our work in improving the collection of tribal data, creating new data sources, and producing new data-driven research projects with tribes.

To attend the Indigenous Data Sovereignty Symposium, visit our registration page.