At a Washington, D.C., news conference Monday, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby stressed the importance of tribes getting the government an accurate count of their citizens during next year's Census.
Anoatubby said tribes have a longstanding problem of being undercounted.
"In the 2010 Census, Native Americans were undercounted at about 4.9 percent less, a rate more than double the next-closest population group," Anoatubby said.
Undercounting can mean less than adequate funding for education, health care, housing and other services treaties require of the federal government.
"So, an accurate count of people from all Native American nations or tribes is absolutely essential in being able to outline the details of these responsibilities," Anoatubby said.
Part of the issue is more than a quarter of Native Americans live in areas considered "difficult to count" Census tracts, like tribal land without street addresses. Anoatubby hopes the coming Census’ options to respond online or over the phone will make the count easier.
The Chickasaw Nation's complete count committee has been running ad campaigns, sending direct mail, posting on social media and hosting information booths at events to get as many citizens to respond as they can.
"We encourage all tribal nations to institute their own initiatives to encourage their citizens to participate," Anoatubby said.
The 2020 Census begins in one year.
