Adams] 



SHONTO: ROLE OF NAVAHO TRADER 



103 



ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE 



Shonto's complex structure of economic control of productive re- 

 sources is not in itself sufficient to insure an equitable distribution 

 of income. As stated previously, the community today is largely 

 dependent upon uncontrolled resources for its livelihood. Thus, in 

 default of controls at the level of production, wage income is subject 

 instead to a similar set of controls at the level of distribution. As 

 in the case of productive controls, the overall effect is to solidify the 

 threefold structure of individual, household, and residence group 

 which is basic to Shonto's economic operations. 



One of the most distinctive features of Navaho social and eco- 

 nomic organization is its threefold character, representing three fairly 

 distinct levels of economic organization in contrast to the two levels 

 (individual and household) of modem American society. While the 

 basic division of labor in both societies is within the household, in 

 Navaho society there is frequently a further division of labor as 

 between households in the same residence group. Households and 

 residence groups are clearly distinguishable as minimum and maxi- 

 mum subsistence units, respectively, whereas in American society 

 the household alone normally functions as both. The structure of 

 economic interdependence among the units of Shonto society is 

 schematized in table 15. 



Resident lineages (see pp. 59-61) actually correspond to the highest 

 level of economic organization in Shonto community. They are not, 

 however, functional units either of production or of consumption. 



Table 15. — Navaho economic interdependence — Units of production and 



consumption 



Source of income 



©a 



■is o 



P CD 



O >-i 



O 



a o. 



o a 

 " " S 





Controlled resources: 

 Restricted property: 



Agriculture 



Livestock — home consumption- 

 Li vestock— sales » 



Personal property: 

 Esoteric skills. 



Crafts 



Pawn 



Uncontrolled resources: 



Wage income 



Unemployment comp. 

 Welfare 



Prod. 

 Prod. 



/Mdse. 

 iCash 



/Mdse. 

 ICash 



Mdse. 



Mdse. 



Cash 

 Cash 

 Cash 



RG 

 RQ 



ilnd. s 



[Ind. 



Ind. 

 Ind. 



HH, Ind. 



Ind. 

 Ind. 



RG 

 RG 



RG 



Ind. 

 Ind. 



Ind. 

 Ind. 

 Ind.* 



RG 

 RG 



HH 



Ind., HH 



Ind. 

 Ind. 



HH 

 HH 

 HH 



RG 



HH, RG 



HH 

 HH 



RG 

 RG 

 RG 



I See table 14. 



' Including wool sales. 



' While ultimate control of livestock rests with residence group. Individual owner has equal authority 

 over sales. 



* Application is made and eligibility established on individual basis, but Income Is Intended for support 

 of entire household and Is dependent on size of household. 



