WASHINGTON – The National Congress of American Indians is sponsoring the NCAI Art Competition in its ongoing efforts to publicize and promote participation in the 2010 Census.

The contest is open to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students all over the country in preschool through postsecondary school. Students are asked to submit artwork related to the theme, “2010 Census: Our People. Our Nations, Our Future.” Winners will receive prizes and national recognition.

Artwork must be no larger than 11x17-inches and must be two-dimensional. Acceptable media includes paintings in acrylic, oil, water color, gouache, casein, tempera; drawings in pencil, ink, pastel, charcoal, crayon; prints using lithography, intaglio, etching, silkscreen, relief print; and mixed media (collage, ledger art, etc.).

Contest details and rules, FAQs, registration materials, a flier and more information are available online. Participants must register and they can do so at the Web site or by calling (509) 789-2692. The artwork with a signed application and release form should be sent to Kauffman & Associates, Inc., Attn: NCAI Art Competition, 165 S. Howard Ave., Suite 200, Spokane, WA 99201, by Feb. 19.

Participants are not required to provide documentation of tribal affiliation.

NCAI entered into a partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau last October and launched the 2010 Census Campaign called “Indian Country Counts.” The goal is to count every American Indian and Native Alaskan in the country.

It is important to get an accurate count of the AI/AN populations because the data will affect policy and human services programs in health, education, housing and more for Native communities for generations. The data affects billions of dollars in federal funding that is distributed to Indian communities in Indian country and in urban areas with high Native populations. Around 64 percent of Native people do not live on reservations or in villages, so they are among the hardest for the Census Bureau to count, and consequently end up missing out on resources they are entitled to and need.

Some 4.2 million AI/AN people were counted in the 2000 census, with estimates that the actual population was undercounted by more than 12 percent.

The NCAI Art Competition is part of a massive outreach campaign that is underway to encourage American Indians and Alaska Natives to participate in the 2010 census. The Census Bureau has hired numerous tribal citizens as liaisons to spread the word about the census process and encourage participation.

Census staff are attending national and regional meetings and powwows to explain what the census is, and a media campaign featuring, among other things, posters by Native artists and paid advertising in local and Native media, is planned.

The Web site provides information about regional efforts, special events, news, actions plans, a census toolkit and more strategies to encourage AI/AN participation in the 2010 Census.