And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: This Greg Richardson is involved in the coming census and brings up important issues I would like to bring to anyone's attention who hasn't seen it yet. My apologies if this duplicates any earlier posts, it's hard to pay attention these days. FYI, this is snipped from a reply to a note from Bruce Two Eagles re: mascots. I have the original if anyone requires it at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Patricia -------------------------------------- http://sites.netscape.net/dreamwalkerbradly/ojibwa > -----Original Message----- > From: Greg Richardson [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, July 02, 1999 7:48 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Year 2000 Census/Indian Mascot Issue (s) > <snip> > I serve on the Year 2000 Census Advisory Committee, for American Indians > and > Alaska Natives, at the pleasure of Commerce Secretary Daley. I consider my > appointment an honor, however, I am concerned about what appears to be a > lack of interest in Indian county with regards to the Year 2000 census. > > I would like to take this opportunity to invite you and your national > network of concerned Indian citizens to call attention to the fact that Year 2000 is just under six month away and that we need to call on Indian leaders all across > the United States to place this issue on the radar screen, at every tribal > government and Indian organization level. > > According to the 1990 census, there was a 12.2 percent under count of the > American Indian population. The under count has resulted in a decade of > under > funding and under representation of Indian citizens in the political > arena. Let > us not accept an under count in Year 2000! We need to promote the > following > with regards to the year 2000 census: > > A. Encourage and require the US Census officials to conduct meetings in > Indian > communities about the year 2000 census. > > B. We need to encourage the US Census to provide information about the > Year 2000 > census at tribal meetings in Indian communities, throughout the US. > > C. We need to encourage the US Census to employ Indians at the Census > Bureau, at > the federal, state and local level, especially in regional offices, where > significant American populations exist. > > D. We need to encourage tribes and Indian organizations to consult with > each > regional office of the census bureau and determine who their tribal and > state > liaisons are. Tribes need to determine how the Year 2000 census programs > for > Indian tribes are being implemented, especially the geographic programs. > Tribes > can establish tribal boundaries, which the census bureau will use during > the > tabulation of Year 2000 census data. THIS IS VERY VER IMPORTANT! > > The census bureau's advertising campaign will start in November. This > means that > you will start seeing advertisement about the Year 2000 census on the > National > Networks.The advertising will be culturally sensitive and you will see > American > Indian imagery during the advertising campaign. The Theme of the Year 2000 > census > is: The Year 2000 Census-Its your future-Don't Leave it Blank! Therefore, > encourage Indian people to complete the census form-DON'T LEAVE IT BLANK! > > LASTLY, there is an issue regarding the census form. During the Year 2000 > census, U.S citizens can check a multitude of racial categories when they > complete the census form. Thus, Indian citizens can check that they are > part > Indian, part white, part asian and the list goes on. However, I am > concerned > about this policy, as it could result in a loss for Indian citizens in > terms of > hard data and true numbers. Example: If 10 percent of tribal members > checks > anything other than American Indian, tribes could hypothetically lose 10 > percent > of their members, and as a result lose 10 percent of their tribal funding. > > As you already know, we experienced a 12.2 percent under count in 1990. If > we > lose another 10 percent our our count, as a result of members checking > other > racial categories, the under count then rises to 22.2 percent for the Year > 2000. > Thus funding for Indian programs could result in a decrease of 22.2 (10 > percent > plus 12.2 percent=22.2 percent. Mega bucks! > > Heads Up and watch out for the Year 2000 Census! Complete the census > formats your > future-don't leave it bland/check INDIAN ONLY! > >
