370 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 196 



the headman continued to be recognized until 1942 whether or not 

 he happened to be president of the chapter at the tune. Indeed, 

 Bidaga exercised great influence and was consulted more or less 

 formally by individuals and groups after he had (in 1935) turned 

 over his post as headman to his brother-in-law. In fact, his role 

 as elder statesman of the community prevailed until his death in 1954. 



After 1939 the Ramah band elected not only chapter ofl&cers but 

 also a delegate to the Navaho Tribal Council. This position came 

 within a few years to be regarded as equivalent to the old headmanship, 

 and from 1942 onward many elections were hotly contested along 

 factional lines which in considerable part were those of "progressive" 

 and "conservative" and, on some occasions, Christian versus the 

 ancient religion. There have usually been two main factions, though 

 their membership has fluctuated and some families have never con- 

 sistently alined themselves with either faction. From time to time 

 another issue between the factions has been whether the Ramah band 

 should be under the jurisdiction of the Navajo Agency at Window 

 Rock or the United Pueblos Agency at Albuquerque (with subagency 

 at Black Rock) . 



Frequency of community meetings has varied greatly with the 

 character and personality of local leaders and representatives of the 

 Bureau of Indian Affairs. In some years during the 1940-50 period 

 there were only 2 or 3 meetings a year, in others as many as 20. Meet- 

 ings are held at the chapter house ^^ near the school which was built 

 in 1943. Adult attendance has been as low as 15 and as high as 98. 

 Matters considered range from complaints of improper conduct on 

 the part of members of the group to consideration of the activities 

 of missionaries, sending the Navaho children to school, elections, 

 and requests to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for services or action of 

 some kind. Discussion often lasts 5 or 6 hours or longer, for the goal 

 is still that of reaching a unanimous consensus of opinion. Moreover, 

 presentations are stylized, deliberate, and repetitious. Most of the 

 speeches are by men and by individuals of at least middle age, though 

 a few of the veterans of World War II have spoken often and at length. 



During most of the period since 1943, there has also been a local, 

 elected Navaho judge who hears cases that are not serious enough 

 for the Federal courts. Analysis of the records shows that charges 

 are most frequently brought for the following (in order of frequency) : 

 drunkenness with attendant bodily or sexual assault or property 

 damage; theft; and trouble between a married couple or illicit sexual 

 acts. An attempt is usually made to arrange restitution or otherwise 

 work out an amicable settlement between the parties. Where this 



33 Built by cooperative Navaho effort under stimulation from the then agent at Black Rock 



