The Key to an Accurate Census of American Indians

[Okwes]

The Key to an Accurate Census of American Indians is Early Participation by Tribal Governments



WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Census Bureau
today began mailing advance informational booklets to all federally
recognized tribal governments asking for assistance in providing updated
addresses for their reservations and off-reservation trust lands. This
early, concerted effort is part of the Census Bureau's plan to make the
2010 Census as accurate as possible.
A complete address list is essential to an accurate count of everyone
living on reservations and off-reservation trust lands in 2010.
''The Census Bureau has a constitutional mandate to count everyone
living in the United States, count them only once, and count them in the
right place,'' said Census Bureau Deputy Director Preston Jay Waite.
''Developing an accurate and up-to-date Master Address File is the first
and most vital stage of the decennial census process, ensuring that people
residing at the addresses listed in the file will be counted in 2010.''
In partnership with the Census Bureau, tribal governments will use
their local knowledge to improve the addresses for housing units, group
quarters addresses and new housing developments within their reservations
and trust lands. Addresses located on federally recognized reservations and
trust lands will be provided for review only to the associated tribal
government.
''The Census Bureau is committed to working with tribal governments to
obtain a complete count of American Indians in 2010,'' Waite said. ''Since
Census 2000, the Census Bureau has become more aware of tribal and cultural
issues that may affect the upcoming census operations at the local level.''
The Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota was one of only two
sites nationwide selected by the Census Bureau to participate in a 2006
Census Test designed to improve counting methods for the 2010 Census.
Additionally, the Census Bureau plans to conduct a series of American
Indian and Alaska Native consultation meetings this year with federally
recognized tribes across the country in preparation for the 2010 Census.
''Decennial census data directly affects how federal agencies make
funding decisions for programs designed to assist American Indian and
Alaska Native people,'' said Gregory Richardson, chair of the Census
Bureau's Advisory Committee on the American Indian and Alaska Native
populations. ''Participation in the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA)
program is the first crucial step tribal leaders must take to obtain an
accurate count of our people.''
Dating back to the nation's first census in 1790, the 2010 Census will
have one of the shortest census questionnaires in the history of the United
States. Asking just seven or so questions of all residents, the census will
take most households about ten minutes to fill out and will result in a
simpler, less costly and more accurate census.
The information contained in the address list is confidential by law.
Those who choose to participate and review the address list must take an
oath to protect the information they collect. Like all census employees,
those who review and update a confidential address list are subject to a
jail term, a fine or both if they disclose any protected information.
For more information, visit the 2010 Census LUCA Program at
www.census.gov/geo/www/luca2010/luca.html.