Adams] SHONTO: ROLE OF NAVAHO TRADER 257 



In chart L, each of Shonto's contact institutions is assessed in terms 

 of the four classes of variables. It is intended that this schematic 

 representation, although highly simplified, will obviate the necessity 

 of any prolonged discussion of individual institutions in terms of his- 

 tory, role, etc. It remains, however, to discuss and clarify briefly the 

 significance of the various factors set forth. 



Among historical factors, it is observable that Shonto Trading Post 

 has been in effective contact with the Navaho community for nearly 

 a decade longer than any other contact institution, and for two decades 

 longer than any other strictly Wliite institution. These figures meas- 

 ure only the length of time during which there has been significant 

 contact between the various institutions and Shonto. Both the Tuba 

 City Hospital and the court and jail were founded a decade before 

 Shonto Trading Post (see "Government Development," pp. 44-48), 

 and the town of Flagstaff goes back to 1876. In 1940, however, hardly 

 any Shonto residents had been to Flagstaff' ; it was not until the out- 

 break of World War II in the following year that real contact was es- 

 tablished as a result of the opening up of jobs at the nearby ordnance 

 depot. Shonto had virtually nothing to do with the Tuba City court 

 until 1939 and 1940, when several individuals were hailed mto court 

 for their resistance to stock reduction. Acceptance of and regular 

 contact with the hospital came some time during World War II. 



It is notable in chart L as in chart H that only commercial and/or 

 economic contacts were initially received with favor. As of 1955, 

 however, there was widespread if not universal favorable acceptance 

 of the school and hospital as well. An attitude of general hostility 

 remains only toward the Tuba City court, and is connected with its 

 efforts to enforce liquor prohibition. 



Under "Factors of Access" (chart L) is measured the actual nmneri- 

 cal significance of contact in terms of frequency, duration, and the 

 numbers and kinds of Navahos chiefly affected. The entries through- 

 out, like the discussion throughout the present section, refer to con- 

 tact with adults only. As was stated earlier, it is impossible as of 

 1957 to measure the effect of intensive schooling on Shonto's present 

 crop of children. Shonto Community School is included in the list 

 of contact institutions on the basis of its frequent and direct contact 

 with adults in the community. 



In the case of railroad work, the duration and especially the signifi- 

 cance of contact cannot be measured in terms of the duration of the 

 job. The work situation of Navaho track laborers constitutes a con- 

 tact only with an entirely esoteric segment of White culture, as un- 

 familiar to the average Anglo-American as it is to the average Navaho. 

 In and of itself it has no more cultural significance than many ISTavaho 

 wage jobs within the reservation, e.g., those at Betatakin (see "Rail- 



