Kalispel Tribe Census Challenge
Project Profile
Client:
Kalispel Tribe of Indians
Project Location:
Washington
Project Time Frame:
July 2016 to December 2016
Purpose: Tribal Census and Community Needs Assessment
Services:
Census Challenge
Household Survey
Community Meetings
Listening Sessions and Interviews
Areas of Focus:
General Demographic Information
Housing
Employment
Health Services
Hunting Activities
Transportation
Project Description
In 2016 the Kalispel Tribe of Indians undertook a project to create and conduct a tribally-administered census of all adult Kalispel members. The Kalispel Tribe was one of five tribal sub-grantees of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) as part of an initial exploration of tribal-led data collection. Due to the small land base of the Kalispel Reservation, the Tribe is unable to rely on the demographic statistics provided by federal sources such as the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS), as the data are reported at too broad a geographic level.
This Census would provide up to date and correct data that would allow the tribe to apply and advocate for program funding as well as aide the administration of tribal programs. Importantly, the fact that this Census is a tribally-designed and owned data collection project means that the Tribe was able to shape the questions and subjects to the culture, needs and interests of its members and its programs. These subjects included housing needs, barriers to employment, desired health services, and participation in hunting activities on tribal lands.
Big Water Consulting worked with the Tribe and its Census staff to develop a survey strategy and questionnaire that best fit the Kalispel Tribe and its membership. Big Water staff visited the Tribe a total of four times to provide technical assistance, planning, and staff training during various phases of the survey process. The active survey phase ran from July through December 2016. Questionnaires were administered via online and paper forms as well as in-person visits to select homes. Using various incentives and communication methods the Tribe’s Public Relations (PR) and Survey Committees designed promotional materials and publicized this survey