EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW-JESSICA IMOTICHEY-WED, SEPT 30, 2020 -1:00PM PST

U.S. Census Bureau and Native American Communities Work Together
to Ensure Every Person is Counted in Reno Area

*** Census Bureau Available for Interviews***

WHAT: The U.S. Census Bureau is working with tribal leaders to encourage American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities to participate in the 2020 Census before time runs out.  In the 2010 Census, the American Indians and Alaska Native population living on reservations was undercounted by 4.9 percent – one of the highest undercounts of any group.

To collect responses, census takers are making a final effort, visiting reservation areas where allowed and calling households to help individuals with responding to the 2020 Census.

As of September 27, the U.S. total response rate is 97.7%. The total response rate in Nevada is 98.6%, while the self-response rate in Nevada is 66%. The city of Reno’s self-response rate is 68.1%, but tribal areas in the region are not seeing the same responses.

Tribal areas in the Reno area, the response rates are below:

• Benton Paiute Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land – 10.2%.
• Bridgeport Reservation – 11.4%.
• Campbell Ranch – 54%.
• Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Colony and Off-Reservation Trust Land – 63%.
• Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation – 30.6%.
• Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation – 43.4%.
• Reno-Sparks Indian Colony – 58.4%.
• Walker River Reservation – 42.6%.
• Washoe Ranches Trust Land – 65.3%.
• Winnemucca Indian Colony – 19%.
• Yerington Colony – 43.9%.

The Census Bureau has been going to extraordinary lengths to reach AIAN communities leading up to and during the 2020 Census, including:

• Collaborating with Tribal partners and leaders throughout the campaign, such as hiring 55 tribal partnership specialists who have engaged in nearly 3,000 events, holding a dozen focus groups with the AIAN community, holding 19 tribal consultations, and hosting a national webinar.
• Launching multimedia advertisements campaign targeted to Alaska Native villages for the first time in census history in December 2019; and
• Officially starting the 2020 Census in Toksook Bay, Alaska to ensure remote Alaskan communities were counted when it was safe for census takers to travel and visit door-to-door.

Before entering tribal areas and communities, census takers complete training on social distancing and safety protocols. They follow public health guidelines and are required to wear a face mask when conducting home visits.  They can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. However, the Census Bureau continues to encourage people to respond to the 2020 Census on their own to avoid a visit from a census taker.

Communities that are undercounted risk missing out on support for an array of critical programs and services, including job training, water pollution control, housing, health care, and education. 

You can respond to the 2020 Census online, over the phone, or by mail. For more information, please visit 2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020.

WHO:         Jessica Imotichey, Partnership Coordinator in Los Angeles Region for U.S. Census Bureau

WHEN:        Radio Interviews on Monday, September 28, Tuesday, September 29, and Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT