American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

November 2012

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. While American Indians and Alaska Natives are proud of their heritage year around, this month has been designated for non-Native people to celebrate our heritage as well.

The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. Red Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horse-back from state to state, getting endorsements from 24 state governments, to have a day to honor American Indians.

In 1990, President George HW Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994. These Facts for Features presents statistics for American Indians and Alaska Natives, as this is one of the six major race categories.

Population

5.1 million

As of the 2011 American Community Survey, the nation's population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race. They made up 1.6 percent of the total population. Of this total, about half were American Indian and Alaska Native only, and about half were American Indian and Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races.

8.6 million

The projected population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race, on July 1, 2050. They would comprise 2 percent of the total population.

1.1 million

Increase in the nation's American Indian and Alaska Native population between the 2000 Census and 2010 Census. The population of this group increased by 26.7 percent during this period compared with the overall population growth of 9.7 percent.

689,320

The American Indian and Alaska Native population in California as of the 2011 American Community Survey. California was followed by Oklahoma (502,934) and Arizona (346,380).

14

Number of states with more than 100,000 American Indian and Alaska Native residents as of the 2011 American Community Survey. These states were California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Washington, North Carolina, New York, Florida, Michigan, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Minnesota.

19.7 Percent

The proportion of Alaska's population identified as American Indian and Alaska Native as of the 2011 American Community Survey, the highest rate for this race group of any state. Alaska was followed by Oklahoma (13.3 percent), South Dakota (10.4 percent), and New Mexico (10.4 percent).

31.3

Median age for those who are American Indian and Alaska Native, and no other race. This compares with a median age of 37.3 for the US population as a whole.

Reservations

324

Number of federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2010. All in all, excluding Hawaiian Home Lands, there are 617 American Indian and Alaska Native legal and statistical areas for which the Census Bureau provides statistics. Source: Census Bureau Geography Division

Tribes

566

Number of federally recognized Indian tribes.

100,000+

In the 2010 Census, the tribal groupings with 100,000 or more responses for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in any combination population were Cherokee (819,105), Navajo (332,129), Choctaw (195,764), Mexican American Indian (175,494), Chippewa (170,742), Sioux (170,110), Apache (111,810) and Blackfeet (105,304). Source: 2010 Census Summary File 1, Table PCT3

Families

557,425

The number of American Indian and Alaska Native family households in 2011 (households with a householder who was American Indian and Alaska Native alone). Of these, 56.6 percent were married-couple families, including those with children.

29.3 and 27.7

Median age at first marriage for American Indian and Alaska Native men and women age 15 to 54, respectively, in 2011. For the US population as a whole in this age range, the respective numbers were 28.9 and 26.9 years. The differences in the median age at first marriage between American Indian and Alaska Native women and women overall, and between American Indian and Alaska Native men and men overall, were not statistically significant. These statistics include only the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population 15 to 54 years.

Housing

54 Percent

The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native alone householders who owned their own home in 2011. This is compared with 65 percent of the overall population.

Languages

27 Percent

Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home, compared with 20.8 percent for the nation as a whole.

68 Percent

Percentage of residents of the Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Ariz-NM-Utah, age 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home.

Education

78.9 Percent

The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma, GED or alternative credential in 2011. In addition, 13.3 percent obtained a bachelor's degree or higher. In comparison, the overall population had 85.9 with a high school diploma and 28.5 percent with a bachelor's degree or higher.

42 Percent

Among American Indians and Alaska Natives alone 25 and older who have a bachelor's degree or higher, the percentage whose bachelor's degree is in science and engineering, or science and engineering-related fields in 2011. This compares with 44 percent for all people 25 and older with this level of education.

65,356

Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone 25 and older who had a graduate or professional degree in 2011.

Businesses

$34.4 billion

Receipts for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses in 2007, a 28.0 percent increase from 2002. These businesses numbered 236,967, up 17.7 percent from 2002.

45,629

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms in California in 2007, which led the states. Oklahoma and Texas followed. Among the firms in California, 17,634 were in the Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Ana metro area, which led all metro areas nationwide.

23,704

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that had paid employees in 2007. These businesses employed 184,416 people.

30.5 Percent

Percent of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that operated in construction and repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services in 2007.

52.9 Percent

Percent of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned business receipts accounted for by construction, retail trade and wholesale trade in 2007.

4,599

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more in 2007.

162

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 2007.

Jobs

26.2 Percent

The percentage of civilian-employed American Indian and Alaska Native alone people 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2011. In addition, 24.8 percent worked in service occupations and 22.8 percent in sales and office occupations.

Veterans

153,223

The number of American Indian and Alaska Native alone veterans of the US armed forces in 2010.

Income and Poverty

$35,192

The median income of American Indian and Alaska Native alone households in 2011. This compares with $50,502 for the nation as a whole.

29.5 Percent

The percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone that were in poverty in 2011. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding rate was 15.9 percent.

Health Insurance

27.6 Percent

The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone who lacked health insurance coverage in 2011. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding percentage was 15.1 percent.

Note: Unless otherwise specified, the statistics in the "Population" section refer to the population who reported a race alone or in combination with one or more other races.

posted November 1, 2012 8:30 am edt