Tribes form complete count committees to promote census participation

Nesreen Khashan

U.S. Census Bureau

At the base of Palomar Mountain, about 20 miles east of the Pacific Ocean in northern San Diego County, lies the Pala Reservation, home to the Pala Band of Mission Indians.

The 1,000-member Pala Tribe and 17 other small tribes in San Diego County have economic influence despite their size.

The tribe operates and owns a casino that is a major economic contributor in the region, with annual purchases of goods and services of $80 million, a monthly payroll of $5 million and 1,900 employees, both tribal and nontribal.

The tribe offers early childhood education cl...