Census 2020 held the first Urban Indian Leadership Circle at History Colorado in Denver, last month. The group gathered the first round of American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) Leaders from the Region.
The half-day training covered 2020 Census overview, how the Decennial Census affects Indian Country, and solutions to potential barriers during 2020 Census outreach. Attendees developed individualized annual plans to support 2020 Census efforts.
Amadeo Shije, Census Tribal Coordinator for 12 States and 119 Tribes and former Zia Tribal Chairman, was on hand to present valuable information and insight for tribal communities.
Shadana Sultan, Tribal Partnership Specialist for Colorado, shared her Colorado goal of securing more than 200 AIAN leaders from three zones across the state, to support in 2020 Census outreach efforts.
All AIAN leaders in attendance were acknowledged for their continued work in Indian Country, with participants receiving 2020 Census tribal partnership certificates. The AIAN leaders shared current projects in works across Indian Country, and areas of expertise that may be of support to others in the room.
Natriece Bryant, Deputy Director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, was in attendance to show support from the state level for the work that the Urban Indian Leadership Circle plans to do in 2020 Census across Colorado.
Additional trainings for the remaining members of the Urban Indian Leadership Circle will be held across the state.
Urban Indian Leadership Circle Members that received Certificates:
Terri Bissonette, Gnoozhekaaning Anishinabe; Jaqueline DeLeon, Isleta Pueblo; Lucille Echohawk, Pawnee; Elicia Goodsoldier, Dine’/Spirit Lake Dakota; Phil Gover, Pawnee/Choctaw; Theresa Halsey, Hunkpapa Lakota; Kelly Holmes, Cheyenne River; Ben Jacobs, Osage Nation
Cheryl Lucero, Dine and Yaqui; Adrianne Maddux, Hopi-Sun Forehead Clan; Shawna Maher, Lakota; Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand, Sicangu Lakota and Cherokee; Rose Marie McGuire, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate enrolled; Walt Pourier, Oglala Lakota; Kelly Reyos, Northern Ute
Lakota Sage, Standing Rock; Tachara Salazar, Taos & Santa Ana Pueblo
Pearline Sanchez, Pueblo and part Dine; Bessie Smith, Dine`/Navajo; Clarence Smith, Blackfeet; Darius Smith, Navajo; Kimberly Varilek, Eastern Shoshone; Rick Waters, Kiowa/Cherokee; Marsha Whiting, Sicangu Lakota and Chippewa Cree; Montoya Whitman, Cheyenne and Arapaho; and Jennifer Williams, Sicangu Lakota.
For additional information regarding the Urban Indian Leadership Circle, contact Shadana Sultan, Tribal Partnership Specialist for Colorado 720-891-2415 or Shadana.m.sultan@2020census.gov.
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