Local News Matter, May 10, 2022, Are Santa Clara County’s American Indians disappearing?
The 2020 census shows a 20% decrease in American Indians across Santa Clara County, perplexing city officials and fueling advocates’ concerns.
American Indians across the United States have the highest poverty rate among all minority groups. In 2018, the poverty rate among indigenous peoples was over 25 percent,according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. And while federally-recognized tribes may receive housing assistance, others – like Santa Clara County’s Muwekma Ohlone Tribe – are ineligible for such support because they lack federal recognition. Because of that, some may have chosen to leave the area, Nijmeh wrote in an email.
