For detailed answers to your Census questions please see: http://www.ncidc.org/census/census.html *Important Info on Census 2000 from a member of the National American Indian 2000 Census Advisory Committee, Glenda Ahhaitty: It was great to read the press release regarding the upcoming Census. Not only is it important to urge people to fill out the form and mail it back, and that lots of jobs will be available, but it is also important to education and our communities as to what is at stake in how the forms are filled out. Indian communities stand to be the big losers after the 2000 Census is tabulated due to possible tabulation methodology. 1) If a full blood Indian person is married to a non Indian person or living in an household where the head of the household who fills out the form is non Indian, they will tabulated with the household as non Indian. 2) If an Indian person checks the Hispanic/Latino question "yes," they will be counted as Hispanic/Latino. 3) If an Indian person is of mixed race background and checks more than one race -- white, black or asian -- they will be counted in a group of those who are two or more races. Thus, they will be lost for the Indian count. As many issues regarding tabulation have not been resolved and will not be resolved perhaps until after April 2000, it is critical to educate Indian communities on how to fill out the Census form if they wish to be counted as Indian. {DO's} 1) check "no" on the Hispanic/Latino origin question. 2) check only one race "American Indian" and write in the name of your tribe. It would be helpful if you could share this information.  I am a member of the National American Indian 2000 Census Advisory Committee and would be happy to answer any questions any one might have as would any member of the committee.  Committee members addresses and phone numbers can be found on the US Census Bureau web site. I can be contacted at: <Glendasa@aol.com> (213) 738-4936 Thanks Glenda Ahhaitty -- André Cramblit, Operations Director The Northern California Indian Development Council ( http://www.ncidc.org ) NCIDC is a non-profit organization that helps meet the social, educational, and economic development needs of American Indian communities. NCIDC operates a fine art gallery and gift boutique featuring the best of American Indian Artist's and their work, with emphasis placed on the work of the Tribes of N.W. California. (http://www.ncidc.org/gift/gifthome.htm#anchorgift)