American Indian Policy Institute

2013 NCAI Mid Year ConferenceJune 24, 2013Reno, Nevada

Who Counts? And Why it Matters

Presented by

Norm DeWeavernorm_deweaver@rocketmail.com

Eddie F. Brown, DSWExecutive Director, ASU American Indian Policy

Instituteefbrown@asu.edu

American Indian Policy Institute

Tribal Indicators Research Initiative

•Extract AI/AN data from U.S. Census and American Community Survey (ACS) to assist tribes in making effective use of the data.

•Provide innovative analysis of AI/AN census and ACS data in a partnership with tribes, including:

- Statistical and conceptual data errors- Policy implications of census self-identification

•Project partners include: American Indian Studies, Center for Population Dynamics, ITCA, NCAI PRC

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The ACS American Community Survey

Why is it important?

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Tribal LeadersTribal Advocates

Tribal Researchers

All Need to Care

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It’s Basic

#s = $s

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#s = $s• Formula Funded

Programs

• Grant Applications

• Presenting a Profile of the Tribal Community

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ACS: Not Your Old Time Census

• Different Sample Size

• Different Timing

• Almost No Outreach

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Looking behindthe Numbers

Is the ACS AccuratelyMeasuring the Entire

AI/AN Alone Population?

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The ACS appears to be undercounting the AI/AN alone population in many local areas

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Potential Sources of Error in ACS Data

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Non-Sampling Error

The number just isn’t right!

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Some Lessons

Further research and analysis

needed, by users, by researchers

and by the Census Bureau

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Who Counts and Why it Matters

The Key Policy Issue Who Identifies who is

American Indian? • U.S. Census Bureau? • Indian Health Service?

• Bureau of Indian Affairs? • Courts?

What is the role for Tribes?