Preparing for the 2020 Census Choctaw Nation Complete

Preparing for the 2020 Census Choctaw Nation Complete Count Committee Chief Gary Batton, Chair

In This Presentation We… • Sketch the history of the census • Describe the Choctaw Nation’s history with the census • Explain what happened in the 2010 U. S. Census • Present our plan to make the 2020 U. S. Census a success

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2010 Census: What Happened? • Severe undercount: many areas of 10. 5 counties were afterward categorized as “low response areas” • Only about 20% of Choctaw Nation tribal members were listed as such; the rest were disqualified due to lack of specificity • What happened: • • CDIB holders within Choctaw Nation at time of 2010 Census was 199, 410 159, 630 wrote in “Choctaw” or “Choctaw Nation” 24, 000 wrote in “Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma” Only the 24, 000 were counted. The rest were not counted because there are three federally-recognized Choctaw tribes—the Jena Band, the Mississippi Band, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Example of Low Response: Atoka County

Aftermath of 2010 Census • Oklahoma lost out on $1, 100 person and $4, 000 per household for each person/household not counted • Resulting losses made themselves felt in lower amounts of money made available for public safety, health care, education, infrastructure, and other grant-enhanced activities • Many U. S. agencies use the artificially-low 24, 000 figure to determine our tribal membership, not our official tribal roll • Financial losses have compounded over ten year period • One recent example: we received only $200, 000 for a grant rather than the $1, 200, 000 which should have been available

Preventing a Recurrence in 2020

Going Forward… • Choctaw Nation marketing campaign kicks off in January • Beginning second week of April 2020, will monitor real-time Census results on a weekly basis, and adjust outreach • Social Services will begin providing clients with information about how to fill out Census form—there are 110+ workers • Education programs will send information home with students • Will process and share data with Complete Count Committees, cities, counties, or chambers of commerce in the 10. 5 counties • For information see www. choctawnation. com/2020 Census

For More Information… Melissa Landers, Coordinator Choctaw Nation Complete Count Committee mlanders@choctawnation. com 580 -924 -8280, ext. 2291 www. choctawnation. com/2020 Census