First American Education Project Nationwide Survey

1. First American Education ProjectNationwide Survey A Nationwide Analysis of Opinions on Native American Issues by Evans/McDonough Company, Inc.

2. Methodology Nationwide Telephone Survey • 1,000 interviews with Registered Voters • Conducted February 14-20, 2002 • Theoretical reliability of +3.1 points • Average interview length of 18 minutes • 250 interviews in each of four regions (theoretical reliability of +6.2 points), weighted to reflect census distribution Northeast region Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Midwest region Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota South region Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas West region Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington

3. Self-Government There is strong support for greater self-government for Tribes and support increases substantially after people hear arguments in favor of greater self-government. • A majority (59%) initially favor greater self-government and support increases 12 points to 71% favor after arguments in favor of greater self-government. • A strong majority in every significant subgroup favor greater self-government and support is consistent in all four regions. - Support is highest among Democrats (76%), 18-49 year olds (75%), and college+ educated (73%). - Opposition is strongest among Republicans (29%) and older men (32%). • The strongest arguments are: - “will help tribes build pride and self-respect and will help them revitalize their rich cultural heritage and unique tribal traditions” (66% more likely) - “will help tribes become more self-sufficient and less reliant on government funding and programs” (63%) - “most tribes already have positive government-to-government relationships with states and have voluntarily entered into agreements with states to share authority over such matters as taxation, law enforcement, and environmental regulations” (54%)

4. Self-Government Strong majorities believe that Tribes should have conventional governmental powers over both Indians and non-Indians on the reservation. • Three-fourths or more support “traditional” governmental roles for Tribes including police powers, the ability to tax and regulate, and the ability to enforce contracts. • There is also strong support for: - allowing Tribes to “set up education and health care programs on reservations according to what they think will best meet their members needs” (87% agree) - allowing Tribes to “establish casinos on reservations to generate revenue for education, health care, and infrastructure just like state governments do with lotteries” (73% agree)

5. Consequences of Greater Self-Gov’t Respondents see the consequences of greater self-government for Tribes as positive and do not believe that it will result in more disputes or conflict with surrounding communities. • Respondents see an increase in self-respect as the most likely result of greater self-government for tribes (54% “very likely” or “almost certain”). • The other consequences they see as most likely to occur are also positive: an improvement in the quality of life on reservations (35%) and less reliance on government handouts (27%). • Respondents do not think that greater self-government will lead to: - unfair treatment on non-Indians who live on reservations (54% unlikely) - out of control development (61% unlikely) - escalating conflicts with surrounding communities (60% unlikely) - increased crime (65% unlikely) • Most respondents are not concerned about going to an Indian reservation even though local and state governments have no jurisdiction there -- 71% disagree that they would be uncomfortable.

6. Relationship to Other Governments People do not have a clear picture of Tribes’ relationship to state government and are divided over whether or not Tribes should be subject to state laws and regulations. • Roughly half (47%) think Tribes should either be treated as separate nations (10%) or should have primary authority over what happens on reservations (37%). • And half (51%) think states should be able to compel tribes to obey state laws and regulations (18%) or that Tribes should not be treated any differently than other private land owners (33%). - Younger voters are much more likely than older voters to feel that the state should not have authority over Tribes (52% vs. 39%). - Better educated voters (college+) are more likely than voters with less formal education to feel that the state should not have authority over Tribes (52% vs. 35%). Q12. Which of the following statements about Native American tribes comes closest to your opinion: tribes should be treated as separate nations within the United States with complete authority over what happens on their reservations 10% tribes should have primary authority over what happens on their reservations, as long as they are in compliance with federal and congressional requirements 37% tribes should have some authority over what happens on their reservations, but states should be able to compel tribes to obey state laws and regulations on reservation land 18% tribes should not be treated any differently than other private land owners in a state and should be subject to all state and local laws and regulations 33% (Don’t know) 2%

7. Treaty Obligations Respondents overwhelmingly agree that “we have an obligation to live up to the terms of treaties between Indian Tribes and the U.S. government whether we agree with all the terms or not.” • Most respondents (81%) agree that there is an obligation to live up to the terms of the treaties whether they like all the terms or not. - Opinion consistent across all four regions - Democrats (82% agree), Independents (81%), and Republicans (79%) all overwhelmingly agree with this statement. • Respondents are much more likely to believe that Native Americans have mostly lived up to the treaties they made with the U.S. government (58% agree / 8% disagree) than they are to believe that the U.S. government have mostly lived up to the treaties (27% agree / 49% disagree).

8. “Tribes” vs. “Tribal Governments” In general, people have a more favorable impression of Tribes than of Tribal Governments, but this is mainly because they are less familiar with Tribal Governments. • A majority have favorable opinions of both Tribes (72% favorable) and Tribal Governments (52% favorable) and there is very little negative opinion (6% & 12% unfavorable). - There is little variation in opinion about Tribes and Tribal Governments by region. • People are slightly more likely to trust Tribes (58%) to “set the laws and regulations that govern Indian reservations” than they are to trust Tribal Governments (52%), although the difference is minor and about a third are not sure. • For both Tribes and Tribal Governments, respondents are divided in assessing the job they are doing “on behalf of their members.” - 29% give Tribes a positive rating for the job they are doing on behalf of their members, 39% give them a negative rating, and 32% are not sure - 31% give Tribe Governments a positive rating, 35% give them a negative rating, and 34% are not sure

9. “Sovereignty” vs. “Self-Government” Voters respond much more positively to the idea that Native American tribes “have the right to self-determination and self-governance” than to the idea that tribes “are sovereign nations.” • A strong majority (65%) of respondents agree that “Native American tribes have the right to self-determination and self-governance” while only 24% disagree. • Fewer than half (43%) agree that “Native American tribes are sovereign nations” while a third (34%) disagree and another 23% are not sure. - Older men are the most resistant to the idea that tribes are sovereign nations (42% agree / 45% disagree).

10. Protecting the Rights of Native Americans Respondents overwhelmingly believe that working to protect the rights of Native Americans to self government should be an important priority for our elected officials. • Three fourths (74%) of the respondents think that “working to protect the rights of Native Americans to self government on Indian reservations” should be a very (24%) or somewhat (50%) important priority for our elected officials. - Opinion consistent across all four regions - Democrats (79% important), Independents (75%), and Republicans (68%) all overwhelmingly agree that this is an important priority for elected officials.

11. Conclusions • There is strong support for Tribes taking on the responsibilities and powers people traditionally associate with governments and there is little concern about possible negative consequences. • People are conflicted about where tribes fall into the spectrum of governments and about how tribes and other governments interact. • “Self government,” “self determination,” and “an obligation to live up to the terms of treaties” are more effective ways to talk about the rights of tribes and tribal governments than talking about “tribal sovereignty.”

12. What’s Next • An aggressive, effective, professional effort to educate politicians and media about the broad support among the American public for greater self government for Tribes and the overwhelming support for Tribes taking on traditional governmental roles like police, infrastructure, and taxing and regulation. • Further research to better understand how people reconcile: their support for greater self government for tribes and their beliefs about the obligation to live up to treaty terms with their view of the relationship of tribal governments to state and local governments.

13. Organization National Sovereignty Protection Committee. • Public Affairs Sub Committee • Sub Committee Workgroup/FAEP › Grassroots › Media › Congress › Executive branch › State coordination

14. Tasks/Tools • Focus groups/message development • Identification of Tribal spokespeople • Internal (Indian Country) Education • Assemble allied non-Tribal opinion leaders • Raise Congressional awareness • Disseminate poll data • Earned media placements

15. Timeline • By March 20: secure final funding for Focus Groups • March 30 - April 20: Conduct Focus Groups • April 25 – May 5: Analyze and digest data/Develop final message(s) • May 15: Present findings to Committee • May – November: Implement Congressional/grassroots/media strategy