By Brian Larsen of the Cook County News Herald - March 13, 2020

Following a resolution set recently by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) and a proclamation made by Governor Tim Waltz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Saturday, March 21, 2020, has been set aside as Census Pow-Wow Day for Minnesota’s Native Americans.

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will host a 2020 Census Pow-Wow at the Grand Portage Event center on Saturday, March 21 from noon to 1:30 p.m., with food served and the Stonebridge Singers on hand to drum and sing traditional songs.

A census representative will be in attendance to answer questions. Everyone is welcome and for those that attend, there will be census swag bags given out.

How important is it to fill out the census? In 2010 it is widely believed that Native Americans were vastly undercounted, and traditionally Native Americans have been undercounted during every 10-year U.S. census. Because dollars are distributed from the federal government to tribes based on the census, an undercount means a reservation will get less money for roads and road maintenance, schools, elder care, and medical clinics. Basically, most community services will receive less dollars because everyone wasn’t counted.

To read the original article and related reporting, follow this link to the Cook County News Herald.  https://www.cookcountynews-herald.com/articles/grand-portage-to-hold-a-2020-census-pow-wow-day-on-ma...