Native Americans Encouraged to Participate in Census

National and tribal leaders and the U.S. Census Bureau are putting extra effort into encouraging Native Americans to participate in the 2010 Census count.

“The goal of the 2010 Census is to paint a Portrait of America and each and every Native person who is counted makes a huge difference in ensuring the face of Indian Country is truly a part of this portrait,” said Derek Valdo, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Southwest Area vice-president, at a news conference last Thursday during a 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour stop in Albuquerque.

Valdo was among several national and local tribal leaders and U.S. Census officials touting the importance of participating in the count.

Valdo, along with Amadeo Shije, U.S. Census Tribal Partnership Coordinator of the Denver Region, encouraged tribes to participate as the data is used extensively for the distribution of funds to state, tribal and local governments. It forms the basis for more than $1 billion that flows into Indian Country.

NCAI has joined with the National Call to Action with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which is made up of the Asian American Justice Center, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, the NAACP and other national organizations.

NCAI has created the Indian Country Counts campaign, in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, to ensure an accurate count of all Native people.

The Indian Country Counts strategy includes a Web site with a downloadable tool kit for tribes, news about the Census, contact information for federal workers, Census job postings, updates from the Census Bureau, a discussion board and stories about the Census across Indian Country.

NCAI to Honor Six for Their Service to Indian Country

The National Congress of American Indians will honor six leadership award recipients for their extraordinary service to Indian Country, according to a press release issued by NCAI.

Awardees were selected for their exceptional commitment and dedication that has provided an array of opportunities in the areas such as economic development, justice, health and Indian affairs, with their contributions providing an invaluable service in promoting sovereignty and government relations.

The award recipients are: Elouise Cobell (Blackfeet), lead plaintiff in Cobell v. Salazar, who will receive the Native American Leadership Award; Dr. Stephen Cornell, co-director of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and director or Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, and Professor Joseph P. Kalt, co-director of Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, who will receive the Public Sector Leadership Award; Dr. Eric Broderick, deputy administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, who will receive the Governmental Leadership Award; U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D - CA), who will receive the Congressional Leadership Award; and Marie Howard, staff director for the House Resources Committee - Office of Indian Affairs, who will receive the Special Recognition Award.

Still Time to Get Stimulus Money

Almost every day, a new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding opportunity notice is issued. Coming almost as quickly are the deadlines to apply. In fact, quite a few have come and gone, and the federal agencies setting them have already announced the award recipients.

How can tribes keep up? There is $787 billion in economic stimulus money being handed out, and they do not want to miss their shot at getting some of it. Read the rest at American Indian Report.

NCAI Seeks Infrastructure Funding for Tribal Governments in Economic Stimulus Package

The National Congress of American Indians is asking that President-elect Barrack Obama’s economic stimulus package include $5.4 billion specifically for infra-structure needs in Indian Country. NCAI is requesting that tribal governments be treated the same as state governments, in that money would be distributed directly to them and that they would be allowed access to capital. 

 “A tribal provision in the economic plan could mean funding for Indian health care programs, schools and job training projects,” said NCAI President Joe A. Garcia. “Indian Country needs a chance to develop the systems to grow their local economies and Indian people deserve the opportunity for a secure future.” 

Currently federal rules and regulations limit tribal government’s access to capital, expanding the use of tax-exempt bonds could leverage federal spending on infrastructure and economic development activities on reservations. A tribal economic recovery component could also expand loans and surety bonding for Indian businesses. 

Obama’s economic stimulus package, expected to be introduced soon, will include $300 billion in tax cuts and about $500 billion in spending. 

Don’t miss Falmouth Institute’s upcoming Indian Country Construction Conference for an up-to-date overview of how tribal governments can tap into the infrastructure funds available for Indian Country in the economic stimulus package. 

NCAI Spreads the Word about Meth

Tribes have worked furiously in their own communities to get the word out on methamphetamine, how it destroys lives and culture. Now, through the National Congress of American Indians and with support from a slew of partners, they are coming together to spread the word throughout Indian Country.

The message is being sent via a national ad campaign, launched in April by NCAI in cooperation with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Department of the Interior. In the form of a series of free, public service radio and print ads, the goal is reduce usage of this deadly drug among American Indians and Alaska Natives by raising awareness. Read more about it here.