A review of 1980 U.S. census figures indicates that there are 6.7 million Americans who claim American Indian ancestry, compared with 1.4 million who checked "American Indian" as their race. Responses on other sections of the 1980 census indicate different American Indian population totals. For the purposes of this report, the highest…

The American Indian population exceeded 1 million (1,366,676) in 1980, showing an increase of about 574,000 persons or 72% over the decade. The 1980 Census also identified 42,162 Eskimo and 14,205 Aleut who are still highly concentrated in Alaska. The substantially larger count is the result of natural increase and overall improvements in census…

Because American Indians are the largest minority group in South Dakota and because they are known to be among the most poverty stricken in the Nation, South Dakota annually reports on the extent to which the group depends on welfare payments. The report, prepared by the Program Analysis Section of the State Department of Social Services, analyzes…