Taking the North Slope Borough into a count

Published on March 11th, 2010

By VICTORIA BARBER

This year millions of Americans will answer a few simple questions for the federal government as part of the U.S. census. But before those census takers start knocking on North Slope doors, the North Slope Borough will have already finished its own census, one that's a little different than the national one.

"How much do you weigh without shoes?" asks question 17. "What type toilet does the bathroom of this housing have?" is question nine. And question 20 - "During the past week, on average, how many sweetened beverages such as soda pop . . . did you drink per day?"

That's because, more than getting just population numbers "we try to provide a snapshot in time describing each community (on the North Slope)," said Jason Bergerson, project manager for the 2010 North Slope Borough Economic Profile and Census Report.

Of course, population numbers count too, and that's part of the reason that the borough decided to start running their own census back in the early 1990s. The federal census only comes around every 10 years, and not everyone participates - according to the U.S. Census, only 44 percent of the residents of the North Slope Borough participated in 2000.

Yet billions of dollars in federal and state funding for communities is allocated based on those population estimates. Bergerson said that is why it's worth it for the borough to spend a quarter-million dollars every several years or so and take their own count. It's important enough that the borough pays $40 to every household that participates.

"We're going right to the tree to get fresh fruit, we're not going to Costco to buy it by the case - if it's a population determination that leads to services that are available or grant programs it's worth it," said Bergerson, who said the borough's participation rate is about 75 percent to 80 percent. "Every time we do this it pays for itself, usually by the end of the year."

Challenging federal data

The borough has used its data to challenge the state and federal population estimates on funding issues. It also collects information well beyond the scope of the federal census.

In the beginning it was short list covering the basics of topics like population and unemployment rates. Today it has grown into an 18-page affair that asks for detailed information on a range of topics - what kind of heating systems are installed in homes, whether family members smoke inside the house, how much subsistence food a household consumes in a year and how much subsistence food they give away.

"When you have someone's attention for an hour or so it's kind of good to ask them as much as you can," Bergerson said.

Working with the Circumpolar Research Institute, the borough revises its questionnaire each time the census comes around, consulting with agencies such as public works, public health or the school district.

Those agencies help shape the final list of questions. Peggy Cowan, the North Slope School District's new superintendant, thought it would be helpful to get a sense of what people think of the school district, Bergerson said. So this year residents will be asked how much homework they think is appropriate for students, and whether they think their school principal is respected or not.

Data about public health might be used in debates over the environmental impact of resource development, as well informing public health programs. When the borough argues for the cultural importance of traditional activities, the census gives it hard numbers to back that up, as well as letting the borough monitor trends.

The borough's census is taken in person, with a census-taker interviewing each resident. Answering all the questions can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours, said Neil Bush, one of over dozen census takers going door-to-door for the borough.

Sensitive questions

In general, he's received fairly well by Barrow households, Bush said, even when the question is personal or on a sensitive topic.

"I was taught it was rude to ever ask a woman how much she weighs but people here don't even blink," Bush said.

A more difficult question is number 20 - "In the last 12 months, do you feel that anyone in your household has been hurt by alcohol or drugs?"

"I just try to get the answer and move on," said Bush, who said that very few people respond yes to the question.

Bush said that not everyone is interested in answering a bunch of questions from an outsider with the government at first.

"A lot are hesitant to talk with me because it's like I'm big brother, they don't want people looking in on their business," Bush said

But those who are initially suspicious usually warm up once they let him come inside (the $40 dollars is very helpful in getting him in the door, he noted). Once they start, the survey will often start a broader conversation about life in the North Slope community.

"A lot of people that let me in ask me 'How are you being received?' I tell them I'm received way better by people than people thought I would be by their peers.'" Bush said.

Bush said he came to the North Slope from his home in Bellingham, Wash., for an adventure and to learn about a culture different from his own.

What he helped to collect is a time capsule of a community. For him, the census painted a portrait of culture in transition.

"It's a merging of Native culture with white society, and people are trying to succeed in both worlds and it's a struggle," Bush said.