Census totem pole

Sitka totem pole adds stature to Census

By Shannon HauglandAlaska historically has placed last among the states in the percentage of mail-back questionnaires returned to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"We're hoping to increase that," said Eric Morrison, partnership specialist for the U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Census Bureau.

To that end, the Census Bureau commissioned a totem pole to raise awareness, encourage participation in the census, and recognize the government-to-government partnership between Alaska tribes and the Census Bureau.

Sitka carver Tommy Joseph completed the pole in 15 days, and it had its first public viewing atop a truck in Tuesday's Elizabeth Peratrovich Day parade down Lincoln Street.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Census vs. Tribal Sovereignty and Census Meeting in Los Angeles.