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Written by: Robert L. Santos, Director
During November, we have been celebrating National Native American Heritage Month, also referred to as American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Heritage Month. This heritage month is an opportunity to pay homage to and commemorate the traditions, languages, stories, achievements, sacrifices, and legacy of Native American, Alaska Native, and affiliated Indigenous communities to help ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each generation.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating Tribal Sovereignty and Identity.” Tribal sovereignty is the inherent authority of tribes to govern themselves, which means respecting the space where tribes honor and preserve their cultures and traditional ways of life. It also means that decisions about tribes’ rights, citizens, and property are made with their full participation and consent.
Tribal sovereignty is a concept that the U.S. Census Bureau takes seriously. In my office, we work directly with tribal governments on a nation-to-nation basis, listening to ideas and concerns as well as discussing matters of policy, legislative concerns, and providing updates on our agency’s products, programs, and initiatives.
We meet frequently with tribal leaders; for example, just a few weeks ago, I was honored to be invited to address leaders and representatives from 33 tribal nations at the United South and Eastern Tribes Annual Meeting. And just this week, I held a listening session with Alaska Native leaders and representatives at the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Annual Providers Conference in Anchorage. As I told attendees at both meetings, our work together is of the highest priority, and we are constantly seeking to strengthen our nation-to-nation relationships.
From listening to Indian country partners, we know that those nation-to-nation relationships require active, continuous communication. In response to that feedback, in 2022, we established a new Tribal Relations Program. Continue reading...
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