How many Native Americans are there?
I have recently received this e-mail from the United States:
“I enjoyed your article about use of names until I reached the section on
Native American name usage in the US, in which you stated that very few
Native Americans remain in the US. In fact, according to the most recent census:Out of the total U.S. population, 2.9 million people reported American Indian or Alaska Native alone. In addition, 2.3 million people reported American Indian or Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races. Together, these two groups totaled 5.2 million people. Thus, 1.7 percent of all people in the United States identified as American Indian or Alaska Native, either alone or in combination with one or more other races.
I think your misconception is one commonly found among Europeans, but that you would be glad to correct it.”
I am suitably chastised, I have corrected it, and I share my learning with you.