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This count counts
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 Episcopal Church has signed on as a "Census Partner" to mobilize its constituency to help achieve a complete count. The gospel calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to focus on mission and advocacy. We are called to educate, motivate, organize and empower each other to work for justice and peace and to care for all of God's creation. Census numbers give the Episcopal Church and its other advocacy partners the power to make their case in the decision-making circles of public agencies and private organizations.
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.
The Census is also about political power, and an accurate count can be key to maximizing Indian voting strength. Arizona, for example, gained two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2000 Census. The state then redrew its congressional district lines to accommodate the additional seats, creating a district in the northeastern and eastern portions of Arizona that included the Navajo, White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, Yavapai-Apache, Yavapai- Prescott and Tonto Apache reservations. The configuration of the district, drawn using Census data on the Indian population in mind, enabled an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Mary Kim Titla, to make a strong bid for the seat in the 2008 Democratic primary election.
This year's Census is vital for future funding and future generations. According to Census records, the American-Indian population increased faster than the total U.S. population between 1999 and 2000, with more than 4 million people identifying themselves as American Indian or Alaskan Native. This trend is expected to continue. By 2050, the nation's native population could surpass 8.6 million, or 2 percent of the U.S. population.
The Episcopal Church has pledged to share the Census message and mobilize constituents in support of the Census Bureau's goal of achieving a complete count.
Follow these links for more information on how you can help:
2010 Census Indian County Counts
Native American/Indigenous Ministries Social & Economic Justice
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