Abstract

Although Indigenous peoples – American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders – have resided in the United States for thousands of years, their inclusion in the official statistics of the United States is a relatively recent development. The paper has four parts: (1) data and data sources; (2) uses of the information: (3) data limitations; and, (4) data improvements. The focus of the paper will be on the largest group of Indigenous Peoples in the US - American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN).
Part 1: The premier data source in the US is the Decennial Census, mandated in the Constitution and which has collected data every ten years since 1790. The census did not include American Indians until a special supplement in 1890 and not individually until 1960, when AIAN peoples could answer for themselves. Data on Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (e.g. Guamanaians, Samoans) followed in later decades. The census is the basis of US statistics. Sampling frames for many national population-based surveys, such as the Current Population Survey, and National Health Interview Survey are based on the Census. Furthermore, the US census is built into many laws, regulations and programs as the data source for addressing issues, monitoring progress and providing funding. Besides the Census, vital statistics on birth, death, marriage and divorce are summarized and presented at the national level, but data collection is the responsibility of the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Finally, there are program statistics for specific programs, such as the Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal data.
Parts 2 and 3: AIAN peoples in the US tend to be among the poorest Americans. AIAN peoples and Native Hawaiians, have a unique relationship with the US government for complex historical, legal and treaty reasons. For the general population, official statistics are used to assess, address and evaluate policy and program needs. Technically, this is also true for AIAN and other Indigenous peoples. However, due to small population sizes and geographic remoteness, this is often not the case. According to the 2020 census, less than three percent of Americans are AIAN, including those who report themselves to be only one or multiple races. Analyses about demographic, socio-economic and health characteristics are quite good for the general population and for the larger minority groups of African-Americans and Hispanic Americans. However, sample sizes for AIAN peoples are often too small to even be published. Thus, we are unable to address many needed issues and AIAN peoples are rendered statistically invisible.
Part 4: There are statistical techniques, ranging from improved sampling to special supplements that could and should be implemented. Additionally, we need to recognize that AIAN and other Indigenous peoples are important and that their presence and experiences need to be included in official statistics, particularly data collection, analysis and use of results. When official statistics of any country more accurately portray the entire population, the entire country benefits.