Data bridge connecting modern cities and Native American villages

Unlocking Data: How Federal Collections Can Empower Native American Communities

Reese Marlowe in Culture & Society June 2025 • 4 min read.

"A closer look at federal data accessibility and its impact on American Indian and Alaska Native tribes."

For American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes, access to reliable, high-quality data is more than just a matter of information—it's a cornerstone of self-determination. Accurate data informs critical decisions about community development, economic strategies, land management, and the exercise of sovereign governance. The ability to understand and leverage data directly impacts a tribe's capacity to shape its own future and ensure the well-being of its members.

The federal government plays a vital role in this ecosystem, tasked with collecting, disseminating, and analyzing data relevant to AI/AN communities. This information is essential for federal agencies and programs to effectively deliver services tailored to tribal needs and uphold the government's responsibilities. However, the reality is often complicated by statistical and collection challenges that undermine the quality and availability of this crucial data.

Imagine trying to build a house with incomplete blueprints or navigate a ship with a faulty compass. That's the challenge many AI/AN tribes face when working with federal data. Gaps, inaccuracies, and inconsistencies can lead to flawed analyses, ineffective policies, and ultimately, hinder progress towards achieving community goals. This article delves into the landscape of federal AI/AN data collections, highlighting both the opportunities and the persistent obstacles.

The Federal Data Landscape: A Patchwork of Information

Data bridge connecting modern cities and Native American villages

The United States shares a unique legal and political relationship with tribal nations, grounded in the Constitution, treaties, statutes, executive orders, and judicial decisions. This relationship recognizes tribal nations as sovereign governments, possessing the right to self-governance and the authority to manage their own affairs. An essential component of this sovereignty is data—the ability to collect, control, and utilize information about their citizens, lands, resources, and economies.

Despite the critical importance of data, a comprehensive inventory of AI/AN data held by the federal government has been lacking. Existing research reveals fragmented efforts, highlighting the need for a more unified and accessible system. Previous studies have identified key data gaps in areas such as tribal government operations, reservation business activity, and longitudinal data tracking the well-being of reservation residents.

Key findings from previous inventories of AI/AN data availability include:

Significant data gaps exist regarding tribal governments and reservation business activities.
Limited data is available on reservation financial sectors.
More data is needed on land ownership, despite available sources from the US Census Bureau, BIA, and USDA.

One of the significant challenges lies in the inconsistencies and limitations of available data sources. For instance, while the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) and the BIA Labor Force Report offer employment data at the reservation level, they often fail to capture "discouraged workers"—individuals who have stopped actively seeking employment. This omission can skew the true picture of economic conditions on reservations and hinder effective policy interventions. As of 2016, the study reveals a fragmented system where accessing reliable, comprehensive data remains a significant hurdle.

Towards Data Empowerment: A Collaborative Path Forward

The journey towards data empowerment for AI/AN tribes requires a multi-faceted approach. Federal agencies must prioritize collaboration and consultation with tribes, ensuring that data collection and dissemination practices respect tribal sovereignty and align with community needs. Improving data quality, coverage, and accessibility is paramount, as is addressing the persistent data gaps that hinder informed decision-making. By working together, federal agencies and tribal nations can unlock the transformative potential of data and build a brighter future for AI/AN communities.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.17953/aicrj.42.1.unger, Alternate LINK

Title: American Indian And Alaska Native Data In Federal Data Collections

Subject: Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

Journal: American Indian Culture and Research Journal

Publisher: UCLA American Indian Studies Center

Authors: Carlann Unger, Benjamin Simon, Malka Pattison

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why is having access to reliable and high-quality data so important for American Indian and Alaska Native tribes?

Access to reliable, high-quality data is crucial for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes because it is a cornerstone of self-determination. Accurate data informs critical decisions related to community development, economic strategies, land management, and the exercise of sovereign governance. Understanding and leveraging data directly impacts a tribe's capacity to shape its own future and ensure the well-being of its members. Without this data, it's difficult for tribes to make informed decisions about their communities.

What role does the federal government play in data collection related to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and what challenges exist?

The federal government collects, disseminates, and analyzes data relevant to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This is essential for federal agencies and programs to effectively deliver services tailored to tribal needs and uphold the government's responsibilities to these communities. However, there are often statistical and collection challenges that undermine the quality and availability of this data, creating obstacles for tribes seeking to utilize it.

What are some of the key data gaps that have been identified in existing inventories of data related to American Indian and Alaska Native communities?

Significant data gaps exist regarding tribal governments and reservation business activities. There is also limited data available on reservation financial sectors. More data is needed on land ownership, despite available sources from the US Census Bureau, BIA, and USDA. These gaps hinder informed decision-making and effective policy interventions for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.

How do the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) and the BIA Labor Force Report contribute to understanding employment on reservations, and what are their limitations?

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) and the BIA Labor Force Report provide employment data at the reservation level. However, these sources often fail to capture 'discouraged workers'—individuals who have stopped actively seeking employment. This omission can skew the true picture of economic conditions on reservations, leading to inaccurate analyses and ineffective policy interventions for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.

What does data empowerment entail for American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, and what steps are necessary to achieve it?

Data empowerment for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes involves federal agencies prioritizing collaboration and consultation with tribes. Data collection and dissemination practices should respect tribal sovereignty and align with community needs. Improving data quality, coverage, and accessibility is paramount, and addressing persistent data gaps is crucial for informed decision-making. By working together, federal agencies and tribal nations can unlock the transformative potential of data and build a brighter future for AI/AN communities. The implications of not doing so would include continued flawed analysis and ineffective policies.