I have 2 responses 1) Not all American Indians are members of federally recognized tribes. They are either in state recognized tribes or in the case of california bands and groups that signed treaties that were never ratified by congress. 2) for more information on the undercounting issue see the following: http://www.minorities-jb.com/native/special/under999.html The 1990 undercount of racial and ethnic minority groups, referred to as the "differential undercount," was the highest ever recorded since the Census Bureau began conducting post-Census evaluations in 1940, missing 4.4 percent of African Americans; 5 percent of Americans of Hispanic origin; 2.3 percent of Asians and Pacific Islanders; and, over 12 percent of Native Americans living on reservations. -- NATIVEAMERICAN-DELMARVA-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > From: "Douglas & Paula Patterson" <seriesx@netpath.net> > To: NATIVEAMERICAN-DELMARVA-L@rootsweb.com > > You are exactly right. > > If a more exact count needs to be done on Indians, > then forms should be sent to every tribal council in > the U.S. At which point all tribal members and their > extended families would be contacted ( even those > who no longer live on tribal lands), to designate their > race and tribe correctly. > > As this is to determine monies for tribal folk, it seems > that it is by their numbers that the funds be ascertained. > This push to get all the wannabees and new age folks > to declare themselves Indian must have some alterior > motives behind it. If not, why not let tribes determine their > numbers? > > As an Indian, I am always amused when I meet folks who > have some belief that their is Indian in their family and they have > silver and turquoise jewelry on every possible part of their body. > They have numerous dream catchers in their vehicles and in their > homes, feathers, beads, Indian posters, artifacts, weapons, flags, > and sage in abundance. These things speak volumes of that persons > insecurity in what they are. > > Indians dont need these trappings to be seen or identified as Indians. > But those folks are going to be the ones racing in droves to check Indian > on the census. This act still wont make them Indian, but it will be > something > that they will proudly photocopy and use to express their Indianess as it > is considered a governmental document. > > Their will be no controlling the masses. As Indian people, we should protect > against these sort of acts. > > I also find it interesting that it seems some tribal folk may be > participating > in this recruitment. Do they want to increase their funding at all costs. > Remember, > they may court you now, but they will deny your application tomorrow. > > Just food for thought. > > Doug > > -----Original Message----- > From: Thomas F Brown <tombrown@jhu.edu> > > > > >Where does this claim of an Indian undercount originate? What > >is the evidence? The Census data I've seen shows that the > >Indian population has increased by a huge percentage, something > >like 70-80% over the past few Censuses. Most of these would > >seem to be wannabes. Isn't the kind of exhortation you're > >posting just encouraging more wannabes to enumerate themselves > >as Indians? What's the point of that? 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)