Many tribes and Native people have asked, "How are CSBG and other program funding levels determined and how can we get our allocation increased?" The answer is the 2000 Census. Current funding level is based on the results of the 1990 Census. American Indians were severely undercounted in 1990, which resulted in severe reductions in funding and services throughout the entire country. Census data is what is used to determine not only CSBG funding levels, but virtually every federal program that benefits American Indians and Alaska Natives (e.g., education, housing, health, energy assistance, job training, child care, head start). We need to make sure Indian people are not undercounted again in the 2000 Census. Make sure your tribal members understand the critical need for an accurate count. You can assure them that all answers provided are strictly confidential, with no way to connect answers or personal information to an individual. Provide the following information to your tribal members on how to answer the Census: o Check Indian as the only race listing no other admixture (white, black, etc.) o Enter the name of your tribe using only 19 letters. o Check with tribal officials to ensure everyone in the tribe is using the same tribal name with the same spelling. o Make sure that the person #1 on the Census lists as Indian, because everyone in the household will be counted as the same race as #1. Be sure to have a tribal representative attend any Inter-Tribal Complete Count Committee meetings that may be being held in your area. -------------------- The 2000 Census surveys will be mailed out on March 20 to all residential addresses. April 4 is the actual count day, when those without residential addresses will be counted. There will also be a house-to-house canvassing of homes that do not return the mail-out surveys. Let's make sure that WE are not undercounted in the 2000 Census. -- 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)