What does the Census Bureau do? The Bureau of the Census is one of the largest statistical agencies in the Federal government. It is involved in planning, conducting, analyzing, evaluating, and publishing censuses on agriculture, business, construction and housing, foreign trade, manufacturing, population, transportation, and government. Every ten years, the Bureau of the Census conducts the Decennial Census of Population and Housing for delineating congressional districts, determining the number of congressional representatives, and determining the amount of federal funds received for programs.

Our program area develops the data on race groups, including the American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, and White populations. My job is primarily to improve the data for the American Indian and Alaska Native population and their land areas; I am also a manager and a supervisor. I began working at the Census Bureau in June, 1976 and was the first full time American Indian hired by the Bureau. I am Nez Perce and Laguna Pueblo. I have been the key person in developing an inclusive census program for the American Indian and Alaska Native governments and populations. This is very important to me because I am a citizen of the Nez Perce Nation, and the census data we produce are very helpful to tribal governments and organizations in their development of reservation or urban social and economic resources.

What types of projects do I do?