Native American Political Trust

Research on Native Americans’ trust in both the U.S. federal and tribal governments is limited. While existing studies suggest Native Americans have lower trust in the federal government and higher trust in tribal governments, they often overlook the individual factors shaping this trust especially as many Native Americans no longer live on or near reservations. Using data from the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Political Survey, this study explores how institutional and cultural factors influence trust in both governments. The findings indicate that institutional factors, such as the national economy and external political efficacy, are positively linked to trust in both the federal and tribal governments, with stronger effects observed for the federal government. In contrast, cultural factors like linked fate and tribal involvement are positively associated with only trust in tribal government.