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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1990)
Smoke Signals March 1990 Page 2 Listen to the Drum!(cont.) live in the United States. Statistics will be published for American Indians in the nation, cities, counties, reserva tions, off-reservation trust lands, and other geographic areas identified for the 1990 census. The census data will be available in printed reports, on computer files, as well as microfiche and other media. The Census Bureau plans to show data for the total American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut population in standard reports and computer files as well as for each group separately, to meet data needs of tribal, Alaska Native, Federal, state, and local governments. The computer files will have more detailed population and housing data, and for more geographic areas than the printed reports. The Census Bureau also plans to publish special reports and create special tape files on the American Indian and Alaska Native populations. GRAND RONDE AND THE 1990 CENSUS As our tribe was still "terminated", the 1980 census did not provide any data on our tribe or its membership. The opportunity to be enumerated as a tribe in the 1990 census must be taken advantage of. The Tribal Council urges you to fully participate as Grand Ronde members in the 1990 census. You are encouraged to answer the census questionnaire as accurately as possible. THE BICENTENNIAL CENSUS It's ON THE WAY. It will be here before you can say "everybody counts". The 1990 Census will be the 21st in the nation's history - and - the largest and most complex ever undertaken. The Census Bureau expects to count 250 million people and 106 million housing units. WHY A CENSUS? It's a part of the U.S. Constitution. Article I, Section 2 says: "Representatives-shall be apportioned among the several states...according to their respective Numbers...The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of Ten years, in such manner as (Congress) shall be Law direct." HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOU? Success of the census depends on vou. on everyone. In 1990, questionnaires will be delivered to more than 106 million housing units and living quarters in the country. More than 300,000 census takers and support personnel will help conduct the census and add up the final results. How well you cooperate this means completing and returning your questionnaire - will determine how accurate the census will be. THE CENSUS IS CONFIDENTIAL! Neither a census taker nor any other employee of the Census Bureau can reveal information about you or your household. Census personnel take an oath to uphold this confidence. Failure to do so can mean five years in prison, and $5,000 in fines. Title 13 of the U.S. Code prevents any agency - Immigration, the FBI, the IRS, the courts, the military, welfare agencies - from getting any specific information about you. The per sonal information from the 1990 census will be locked up until the year 2062. WHY IS THE CENSUS IMPORTANT TO AMERI CAN INDIANS? Census data are used to allocate billions of dollars of government benefits to states, cities, and counties. Many government assistance programs use census data as a part of their allocation formulas. CONGRESSIONAL USES FOR CENSUS DATA Identify total number of American Indians for U.S., Region, State, County, City, and Reservation. Allocation of funds to Federal and State grant pro grams based on the number and characteristics of American Indians in a specific area. Development of American Indian programs to reduce unemployment, such as; the Job Training and Partner ship Act (JTPA), and the Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Training Program. Identification of American Indian Reservations requiring programs to stimulate economic and social program growth. Assessment of the need for developing and expanding Reservation low-income housing programs. Mi w ta 1 1 LISTEN TO THE DRUM 1a. '.C,. ..CO' FEDERAL PROGRAM USES FOR CENSUS DATA Allocation of funds and analysis of programs for American Indians. Federal programs that have American Indians funds: Dept. of commerce Dept. of Energy Dept. of the Treasury Dept. of the Interior Dept. of Health & Human Services Environmental Protection Agency Small Business Administration Dept. of Agriculture Dept. of Labor Dept. of Transportation Dept. of Education Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Administration Specific Federal Indian Programs Bureau of Indian Affairs (B.I A.) Indian Health Services (I.H.S.) HOW DO AMERICAN INDIANS USE CENSUS DATA? Justify the development of social and educational development programs such as: Child Welfare Social Service Early Childhood Housing Authority Housing Improvement Head Start Community Centers Low Income Energy Asst. Programs Water and Sewer Projects Revenue Sharing JTPA Apprenticeship Training Area office on Aging Adult Education Community Development Block Grant Food Distribution Schools High School and Elementary Identify areas where economic growth should be stimulated; site selection; assessing the adequacy of labor pools; and planning economic development such as; sawmills, grocery stores, fish hatcheries, resorts, bingo, etc. BUT PERHAPS, the most important reasons why the Census is important to American Indians are as follows: 1. An accurate and complete count of all American Indians will help strengthen and foster the government to government between themselves and the other government agencies. ' - - '" ..! 2. Allocation of federal funds for American Indian program operation. 1990 Census Program for American Indians The Constitution of the United States authorizes a national census every 10 years. For the 1990 census, the Census Bureau had planned a number of activities to provide accurate and important information about American Indians. Special efforts were made in the areas of enumeration, tabulation, and publication of data, outreach, and in the identification of geographic areas to ensure that the 1990 census will meet the needs of all segments of the American Indian Community -those living in urban, rural, and American Indian areas throughout the Nation. The Census Bureau has sponsored a Tribal Liaison program, and has asked American Indian tribes to designate a representative from the tribe to serve as the primary contact with the Census Bureau on the 1990 census. The Census Bureau has provided workshops to identify the specific data tribes need. Training work shops have also been provided. The Census Bureau has informed tribal liaisons on the enumeration procedure, the census questionnaire content, and how the data is tabulated and published. DDS0flS8
