Census surveys won't be mailed until March 2010, but the Rapid City office of the U.S. Census Bureau began its campaign Thursday by announcing an effort to recruit temporary workers to help with the job over the next two years.

Theresa Two Bulls, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said it is important for the tribes to be involved in the census so Native Americans can be counted and their voices heard. The count is also important because it dictates the funding tribes receive from the federal government.

"We need to let people know that this is something good, something that is going to help us in years to come," she said. "My motto is unity, understanding and peace. It will be a long, hard drive, but it can be accomplished."

Two Bulls said there will be more of an effort this time around to hire tribal members who speak Lakota as census workers to go out into communities to explain the census and urge other Natives to fill out the form.

Too many times in the past, she said, people have been distrustful of state and federal government and were fearful of filling out the surveys because they felt it would do more harm than good. Two Bulls hopes the outreach effort will increase people's willingness to participate.

When asked how many Native Americans had likely gone uncounted during the last census, Tom Berger, local census office manager, said he couldn't answer the question, though he is aware there have been concerns raised in the past.

That is why there will be a stronger effort to reach people this time, particularly in communities on reservations. He said will Internet access sites will be set up to allow people who may not have Internet service in their homes to have a centralized location to download census information.

"We're going to also provide additional supervision conducting the census (on the reservation) than we have in the past," he said, adding that it will mean more census takers and census workers hired in those communities.

The 2000 census counted 754,844 people in South Dakota, a number the census bureau estimates is about 5 percent higher today.

Vicki McIntire, the regional census director based in Denver responsible for 10 states including South Dakota, said the census ensures communities receive their fair share of representation and federal funding over the next decade.

Population numbers are used in deciding how to divvy up $300 billion in federal funds each year. More than $3 trillion are awarded to states and communities over a 10 year period.

Rapid City Mayor Alan Hanks said census numbers are used at the local, state and federal level to make decisions that impact people's lives. On the local level, population helps determines how much money the city receives for its community block grant program and the public transportation system.

McIntire said the census bureau will hire about 600 people in South Dakota to update address lists this year, then visit households next year who didn't return a questionnaire by mail.

"We need local people to get the job done," she said.

For more information about 2010 census job openings and how to apply, visit www.census.gov/roden/www/2010emply.html, or call 866-861-2010.

Contact reporter Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com