Re: census 2000
Marlene R. Atleo (maratleo@island.net)
Mon, 09 Aug 1999 08:45:07 -0700
In Canada the Census definition for "Indian" has changed in the last three
Census periods....
Enrolled figures are one thing and self definition is another...
the Canadian census was capturing the self definitional aspect
In Canada many on reserve programs are funded based on enrolled or
membership figures rather than actual census figures.
Off reserve membership services then falls to provincial programs for the
most part....in our Canadian era of revisiting Treaties and "government to
government" negotiation with First Nations there is a realignment of cost
sharing in which census figures will play an increasingly crucial
role....its a two edged sword that needs some understanding and management
with FN interests in mind....
Census is a statistical tool of the state....if self definition is used
they could off load programs to those Indian nations to which individuals
claim to adhere...that would bring the native administrations into conflict
with membership....etc etc.
the interests of the state and tribal interests represented by self
definition are at odds here.....
again the deprived will become more deprived if we don't understand the
mechanisms....
At 12:19 PM 8/6/99 -0500, Pamela wrote:
>Personally and politically, I feel it is extremely important to be counted
>as Native American in the Census 2000.
>So many city Indians I knew growing up were counted as white. I'm pretty
etc...
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