"The number of people claiming tribal heritage increased dramatically in the Northwest over the past decade.

The number of residents who identify as Native American is increasing much faster than the growth of the overall population. An analysis of 2010 Census figures shows much of the increase comes from people who say they're part-American Indian.

The Census numbers are based on self identification. Actual tribal membership is determined by criteria that each tribe sets individually. Most of those rolls are ballooning too."

Get the Story:
Census Finds Claims Of Tribal Heritage Jump Dramatically (KUOW 1/27)

Census Bureau Report:
The American Indian and Alaska Native Population: 2010 (January 2010)

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Persons of multiple races boost Native American population (1/26)
Census 2010 puts Native American population at 5.2 million (1/25)