Assignment on Researching the Demographics of Indigenous Peoples
Procedure
Part One
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s site, “My Tribal AreaLinks to an external site.” https://www.census.gov/tribal/ for demographic information. Use the dropdown
menus to choose a state and then select a Tribal Area from that state. You will be shown demographic data on this area and a map showing its location.
Be aware there are several states that contain no designated Tribal Areas. Therefore, you may need to search more than one state. Because tribes were
driven off their land in the eastern United States, there are many more tribal lands located in the western part of the country, as the map above shows.
Part Two
Browse demographic information for the tribal members. This is found by clicking on the tabs for People, Jobs, Housing, Economy, and Education.
This site’s data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, so it is not a perfect representation. Still, the data offers us a snapshot
for our research. More information about the ACS is available onlineLinks to an external site..
Part Three
Write a brief synopsis of what you learned about the people of this Tribal Area, based on the ACS data. Please begin by stating the name of the area, where it
is located, and why you chose it. Then include some conclusions based on data from at least three of the following factors:
Breakdown of age
Breakdown of race
Labor force participation rates
Median income
Education levels
Anything else you found that is of interest
Sample Solution
I chose to research the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon. This tribe is comprised of the Wasco, Tenino and Paiute peoples, located on 855,352 acres in north-central Oregon. The reservation primarily encompasses Wasco County but extends across parts of Jefferson and Wheeler Counties (U.S. Census Bureau., 2019).
The most recent American Community Survey 5-year estimates from 2015 to 2019 show that the population of this tribal area is estimated at 4,744 with a median age of 32 years old (U.S. Census Bureau., 2020). Breaking that down further reveals that approximately 26 percent are between 25-34 while 18 percent range from 35-54 years old which indicates there is an active adult population within this tribal area.
This tribe has a strong occupational base with nearly 60% participating in the labor force and 65% employed throughout various industries such as construction (15%) or food services/accommodation (13%) sectors indicating there are job opportunities available for residents here despite its more remote location (U.S. Census Bureau., 2020). With an unemployment rate of approximately 13%, it is slightly above average when compared to other regions in the United States yet still lower than many nearby counties such as Wasco county where unemployment rates can reach 19% or higher (Oregon Employment Department [OED] , 2021) .
Education statistics reveal that roughly 85% have completed high school or obtained some form of postsecondary education with about 40% being college graduates; this demonstrates a commitment to educational attainment amongst tribal members which could be attributed to local efforts by Warm Springs Education & Training Services division who offer assistance programs for both students as well as educators based within their community (Confederated Tribes Of The Warm Springs Reservation Of Oregon [CTWSR], nd ).
In conclusion, these ACS data offer us valuable insight into what life looks like on the Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs Reservation in terms of demographics, employment and educational attainment levels among its members illustrating aspects both unique to but also similar across tribes within our nation.
