Petition for Indigenous Identity Recognition and Census Classification Reform
We call for two important reforms to the United States Census to improve the recognition and representation of Indigenous ancestry throughout the Americas.

1. Reform Hispanic/Latino Census Classifications

We propose revising the Hispanic/Latino classifications to ensure they are not treated as substitutes for racial, ethnic, or ancestral identity.

Hispanic primarily describes Spanish-language and cultural heritage, while Latino describes geographic and cultural origins in Latin America. Neither independently identifies a person's race or Indigenous ancestry. Although the Census currently classifies Hispanic or Latino as an ethnicity rather than a race, these broad classifications can overshadow the diverse ancestral identities of the peoples of the Americas.

Individuals should retain the freedom to identify as Hispanic or Latino while also having the opportunity to identify their Indigenous ancestry.

2. Expand American Indian Self-Identification to Recognize Indigenous Ancestry Throughout the Americas

We propose expanding Census self-identification options to recognize Indigenous-descended and mixed-ancestry populations throughout North, Central, and South America.

This should include, but not be limited to, Indigenous-descended mestizos, Mexicans, Mexican Americans, Chicanos, Central Americans, South Americans, and other communities with Indigenous ancestry.

Racial admixture, colonization, and generations of cultural assimilation should not erase a person's ability to acknowledge their Indigenous heritage.

Our Objective

Our goal is to provide an additional avenue for people throughout the Americas to reconnect with and identify their Indigenous ancestry without requiring them to abandon Hispanic, Latino, or any other cultural identities.

This proposal concerns Census self-identification and ancestral recognition, not automatic tribal citizenship, enrollment, or federal tribal recognition, which remain separate matters.

Indigenous heritage transcends modern national borders. It deserves recognition, visibility, and the opportunity for self-identification.