222 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BuU. 188 



with regard to science-fiction and horror comic books — their experi- 

 ence with the outside world being insufficient to distinguish fact 

 from fantasy. 



Although most Shonto Navahos manifest a lively curiosity about 

 all manner of White behavior, they are naturally interested chiefly 

 in the things which directly affect them. The explanation and inter- 

 pretation of Government policies and programs is undoubtedly the 

 most frequently sought of all information. Direct contact between 

 Shonto Navahos and Government officials is rare, and the circum- 

 stances are in any case seldom conducive to effective communication 

 of ideas (see pp. 256-263) . Time after time, the latter function falls to 

 the trader (cf. Coolidge and Coolidge, 1930, p. 69; Luomala, 

 1938, p. 5). 



Another important though unofficial activity of Shonto Trading 

 Post is in apprising its Navaho clientele of the provisions of tribal 

 and Wliite law to which they are theoretically subject (see "Law and 

 Order," pp. 68-70). Except in regard to the prohibition of drinkmg, 

 few Shonto individuals have any very clear conception of these legal 

 codes and their implications. In the past they have sometimes run 

 afoul of the law without knowing why, and it is commonly believed 

 that the police (particularly the Flagstaff police) have the power to 

 arrest at any time without cause. It is not surprising, therefore, 

 that Shonto people eagerly seek information from the trader about 

 legal and police powers. 



Finally, and perhaps most important of all, the great majority of 

 Shonto residents regularly rely on the store as a kind of newspaper 

 (cf. Coolidge and Coolidge, 1930, p. 67) to keep them informed on 

 all manner of significant events, current and future. Jobs, meetings, 

 visits by the public health nurse, signup days, and every kind of 

 activity that may affect the life of the community are announced by 

 and through the trader, and it is universally regarded as his duty 

 to keep the community infonned. For this purpose virtually every 

 trading post on the Navaho Reservation maintains a prominent bul- 

 letin board,2° which constitutes the true newspaper of Navaholand 

 (cf. Kluckhohn and Leighton, 1946, p. 38). The importance of 

 Shonto Trading Post as a news agency is especially great, since no 

 newspapers or periodicals of any kind are received by Navahos in 

 the community. The tribal councilman gets a free subscription to 

 Adahooniligii, the monthly Navaho-language newspaper published 

 at Window Rock, but he is not able to read it. 



2" In addition to the conventional bulletin board setup, Shonto Trading Post often 

 displays a slate on which what might be called the "headlines" are posted. It Is hung 

 up in a prominent place whenever an announcement of special Importance te the commu- 

 nity is to be made. Sample headlines during April 1956, were : "Next RR signup day 

 Thursday, April 5 ;" "Public health nurse will be at the school April 12 — Thursday ;" 

 "Meeting here April 16 about hospitals;" "Relief man from Phoenix will be here May 8 — 

 Tuesday ;" and "All pawn must be talien out during wool sales or it will be sold !" 



