Let’s Make Sure Indian Country Counts!

NCAI sees participation as one of many components on the civic engagement continuum. The Census is just one way of making sure Natives are full participants in the American political process and democracy. Being included in the 2020 Census is just as important as registering our people to vote and getting them to the polls on Election Day. Census data are used for apportionment and redistricting efforts.

With large gaps in data on our population, it’s difficult to make progress when we can’t describe needs for improving infrastructure like roads, housing, schools, police, and hospitals.

We know that accurate data is necessary for forward thinking policy development. It is critical that the 2020 Census captures an accurate picture of Indian Country, as it lays the groundwork for a decade of policymaking, from 2020 to 2030. It will also be a part of the debate as we turn from census data to redistricting and then continuing to work toward measuring economic development.

The support of tribal leaders, activists, volunteers, community leaders, Native organizations, and intertribal groups is of the utmost importance to ensuring that none of our Native people are missed. Although challenges exist, such as unmarked homes in rural communities, language barriers, unemployment, overcrowding, high rates of home foreclosures, and increased migration of American Indians and Alaska Natives, the Census is too important to ignore.