A Neglected Nation Within Our Nation: Re-Aligning Policy Preferences About The Navajo Reservation's Economic Condition

For over a century, the plight of indigenous peoples has been swept under the rug of the American consciousness. The Navajo Nation’s economic condition is just as bad as other disadvantaged groups, yet most Americans do not mobilize to help. Why? This paper uses a large online survey to test whether awareness of the reservation’s true economic condition favorably re-aligns policy preferences in the American public. First, respondents state their belief about the median household income of the Navajo Nation. Then, the treatment group receives the accurate statistic and the control group does not. Next, the survey presents both groups with the same policy preference questions. Ultimately, I find that the information treatment corrects misperception, particularly with those who overestimate income, increasing a respondent’s personal altruism, problem perception, and desire to research reservations.