Some 300,000 additional Californians included Indian or Alaska Native in a multiracial response. A 50 percent increase in the Indian population during the 1990s has been linked to tribal casinos, which distribute wealth to members and give hiring preferences to Indians. And in North Dakota, where only six counties gained people during the 1990s, two are home to reservations and both have casinos. Census officials say they did a better job counting everyone last year than in 1990. Even so, they estimate they missed 4.7 percent of Indians and Alaska Natives on reservations, more than three times the national average.
Some tribes say the undercount is far higher.
JoAnn Chase, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, said she doubted that many people were declaring Indian ancestry without good reason. More likely, she said, multiracial Indians are more likely the adult children of parents of two races who are reconnecting with their Indian culture and traditions. I think that constitutes the largest part of the population, people who legitimately have a nexus to their tribal affiliation. Poverty, welfare cuts and fear Angel Reddest grew up on the Pine Ridge reservation, attended Black Hills State University and lived for a while in Rapid City. She now owns Lil Angel's convenience store in Kyle with her mother and brother.